Sir Jim, the founder of the INEOS chemicals group and part-owner of Manchester United, warned that Britain faces profound political, social and economic challenges, among them an unprecedented rise in immigration in recent years.
"You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in," he said. "I mean, the UK has been colonised. It's costing too much money.
"The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn't it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it's 70 million. That's 12 million people."
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that the population of the UK was 67 million in mid-2020 and 70 million in mid-2024.
The UK population was estimated at 58.9 million in 2000.
Sir Jim - who is a resident of Monaco - signalled that the prime minister might not be the right man for the top job, saying: "I don't know whether it's just the apparatus that hasn't allowed Keir to do it or, or he's maybe too nice - I mean, Keir is a nice man. I like him, but it's a tough job and I think you have to do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track, because at the moment I don't think the economy is in a good state."
The chemicals boss said he had met recently with Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, saying of him: "I think Nigel is an intelligent man, and, I think he's got good intentions. But in a way, you could say exactly the same about Keir Starmer. I think it needs somebody who's prepared to be unpopular for a period of time to get the big issues sorted out."
Referring to his role at Manchester United, Sir Jim added: "I've seen quite a bit of this at the football club. If you do difficult things, which we felt that we had to do at Manchester United... we felt like they were the right things to do. But you do become very unpopular for a while."
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Sir Jim continued: "Well, I've been very unpopular at Manchester United because we've made lots of changes. But for the better, in my view. And I think we're beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that's beginning to pay off.
"But you've got all the same issues with the country. If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, if you want to deal with that, then you're going to have to do some things which are unpopular, and show some courage."
Sir Jim was talking on the fringes of the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, at which leaders from many of Europe's biggest economies, including France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz, are meeting with industrialists to discuss the fate of its economy.
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The summit comes amid a spate of closures across the European chemicals sector, closures that indicate, in the INEOS founder's view, that the European chemicals sector is facing "unsurvivable conditions".
Reacting to Sir Jim's comments to Sky News, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky's Matt Barbet on the Politics Hub that migration - both legal and illegal - was too high under the Conservatives, and that people want to see those arriving "making a contribution" and "not doing that at the expense" of a government that isn't investing in young people.
But she continued: "My dad comes from an immigrant background. I want your viewers to know that I am really proud that Britain is a diverse and tolerant country that is strengthened by waves of immigration."
She added: "I'd be more than happy to speak to him about what we're doing."
A post on his own Instagram account and that of his wife's said he had "met his final days with courage, faith and grace".
The actor revealed in 2024 he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
The statement said: "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning.
"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come.
"For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.
Tributes were paid to Van Der Beek immediately after the news.
'He will always be family to me'
His Dancing With The Stars partner, Emma Slater, who appeared with him on the show in 2019, said: "I'm so devastated.
"He is and will always be family to me. Love you so much James. The man that you are, you can be proud of.
"So grateful that I got to be there to say goodbye to you."
'I am broken'
Actor and close friend, Alfonso Ribeiro, who starred in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, said: "I am broken. So happy to have him in my life. Lucky I got to be there to say goodbye."
Van Der Beek made a surprise video appearance at a Dawson's Creek reunion charity event, in September, in New York. He had previously dropped out due to illness.
He appeared projected on stage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre during a live reading of the show's pilot episode, to benefit F Cancer.
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Van Der Beek said: "Thank you to every single person here."
Dawson's Creek ran from 1998 to 2003, and followed a group of high school friends.
Van Der Beek, then 20, played 15-year-old Dawson Leery, through which he shot to fame, along with the show's other stars Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson.
Van Der Beek was raised in Cheshire, Connecticut, and began acting aged 13 after suffering concussion playing football, which prevented him playing for a year on doctor's orders.
The INEOS billionaire's outburst on immigration risks further antagonising those inside and outside the club.
The men's squad alone relies on overseas talent, featuring more than a dozen different nationalities.
And then there's the staff - many with global heritage - who keep the club running on a daily or temporary basis from the training ground to Old Trafford.
Sir Jim's view of foreign people coming to Britain collides with the ideals promoted by United and the Premier League.
While the co-owner complains the "UK has been colonised by immigrants", United's website embraces "Manchester, a city famed for its embrace of immigrants".
And the Premier League website celebrates how "it has become a league of nations on the pitch".
The backlash has been swift with anti-discrimination body Kick It Out making clear its condemnation - highlighting the comments being at odds with the diverse fan base and Manchester being "enriched by immigrants".
Branding Sir Jim "disgraceful", Kick It Out said in a statement to Sky News: "This type of language and leadership has no place in English football."
How will Sir Jim's allies react? Especially Gary Neville, based on what he said in 2019.
The former United player said racism was being fuelled by then-prime minister Boris Johnson's inflammatory language on limiting migration. Neville now advises Sir Jim on new stadium plans.
A minority stake was sold in 2024 by the majority owners, the Glazers, to tap into Sir Jim's expertise and improve the running of the business and bring the biggest trophies back to Old Trafford.
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They will need the best foreign stars to do so. And Sir Jim needs the supporters on board.
The first official expression of concern from the fan base came from the official Muslim supporters' club, expressing concern Sir Jim's views are "legitimising prejudice and deepening division".
Speaking out against immigration risks further angering fans who have already been protesting against his running of the club.
The professional dancer was 44 when he was found dead in a hotel room in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in February 2024.
Police found a note left in the room in which he said he had been "fighting it" since losing his job on the show, coroner Dr Anton van Dellen told jurors at West London Coroner's Court on Wednesday.
Windsor joined Strictly in 2010 and danced with actresses Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson and Lisa Riley, as well as Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden, in four series until 2013.
He could not perform in the 2014 series because of a back injury and was dropped in 2015, though still danced with TV presenter Alison Hammond in the Christmas special that year.
In a written statement read to the court earlier, Emmerdale actress Riley said Windsor's "glow had gone" after he was cut from the professional dancers' line-up.
"It was from this moment, on to the time of his death, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into endless depression," she said.
Riley said Windsor told her about times of "never feeling good enough" and "imposter syndrome".
"One night he opened up, telling me of the horrific time he was molested by an old dance tutor and [he] felt his parents never really understood this," she said.
"Robin was and always has been very influenced by other men. It became a standing joke that he fell in love after three days."
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She said Windsor was insecure about his body and took steroids, which could put him in a bad place when combined with alcohol, adding he was "drowning in debts" and "frantically" spent money on designer items he could not afford.
"Money problems also played a part of his darker days," she said. "He was drowning in debts which led to weekends I wouldn't hear from him."
Summing up the evidence, coroner Dr van Dellen read parts of a written statement by Windsor's ex-boyfriend, X Factor star Marcus Collins, who said Windsor's mental health deteriorated when he was released from his Strictly contract.
"The day that he was informed that he was no longer required for Strictly really broke his spirit," Collins said. "Robin's mental health was challenged almost constantly from this point and at times it altered his personality."
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK.
Alternatively, you can call Mind's support line on 0300 102 1234, or NHS on 111.
He was arrested after being seen at a mosque, they added.
Police believe the attack began when the teenager, a British national, went into a first floor classroom at Kingsbury High School, in Brent, north-west London, and sprayed a substance towards a pupil who was not injured.
Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan told reporters: "The suspect has then attacked another pupil, a 13-year-old in that classroom, stabbing him, and then the suspect has left, running down the hallway of the school.
"As he is leaving, he then attacked another victim, a 12-year-old, stabbing him before running off and away from the school."
Two boys, aged 12 and 13, were taken to hospital in a serious condition after the incident, which unfolded at lunchtime on Tuesday.
Counter-terror police have been leading the investigation into the attack but Ch Supt Flanagan said it has not been declared a terrorist incident.
She added that officers do not believe the suspect has "any particular connection" to the mosque.
"Police were called by a member of the public at approximately 4.50pm over concerns of a child that had been seen at a mosque in north west London," she said.
"Officers attended shortly after and arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of attempted murder, and he remains in custody.
"At this stage, we think that it may have been coincidental that he ended up in that area, and all of those at the mosque have been incredibly supportive of this investigation."
Officers are understood to be leaning towards a personal grievance being the motivation, rather than terrorist ideology.
Searches have been carried out at two addresses connected to the suspect and the mosque where he was arrested. Police are also speaking to around 30 to 40 witnesses.
In a letter to parents, the school's head teacher said it was a "deeply traumatic event for the whole school community". Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the attack as "shocking".