If you ever visit Britain, why don’t you jump into your rented Mini Cooper and go out and treat yourself to a meal at Harry Ramsden’s, Britain’s largest fish and chips chain—don’t forget the hp sauce for good touch. For dessert, why not a KitKat Bar or any other Rowntree chocolate product? On your way to the Savoy, swing by Harrods or the Body Shop and pick up a present for that special someone. It will make your evening just that more relaxing as you sit back and enjoy that Manchester United Soccer match while sipping a glass of Bass Ale or Beefeater gin.

But as you do these things, know this is no longer a 100 percent traditional British experience. All of these British icons are now foreign-owned—memories of a once-mighty British corporate empire.

The last several years have seen British companies being bought up by foreign interests at an unprecedented rate. Many of these lost companies are the most technologically advanced and strategically developed corporations in the world—the crown jewels of corporate Britain.

It is only fair to note, of course, that British companies purchase foreign companies as well. The problem is, foreigners have consistently purchased more British public companies than vice versa over the past five years. “The scale of what is happening is truly breathtaking,” says the Guardian. “[N]o other economy is as open as Britain’s or makes takeovers so easy” (February 17).

Why haven’t more of Britain’s leaders spoken out about this foreign spending spree?

The Guardian says the lack of outcry from the government is because, “apart from the U.S., no other economy needs the inflow of overseas cash so acutely. Britain’s industrial and financial jewels are being auctioned to pay for a record trade deficit. … With no end to the trade deficit in sight, the auction will go on until the cupboard is bare.” Due to Britain’s trade deficit, foreign nations are holding increasing numbers of British pounds. If Britain doesn’t allow those pounds to be spent purchasing British assets, Britain risks foreigners dumping pound holdings and subsequently risks a devaluing British pound.

The reason more British leaders haven’t spoken out is one of economic ideology: Takeovers are just part of the free market and capitalism, and not of concern. Indeed, British Prime Minister Tony Blair doesn’t seem to have any concerns over foreign ownership. He even says foreign takeovers of airports, utility companies and other strategic companies are actually “good for the consumer” (Independent, June 9).

But that kind of thinking can be dangerous when the rest of the world isn’t on the same playing field. In much of Europe, national governments restrict foreign takeovers and tend to promote the creation of national industry and global champion corporations. Nations like Germany, France and Spain fight to protect their strategic industry from foreign takeovers. But the British apparently lack that basic sense of loyalty to and pride in their home country. “British politicians of all parties, unlike their continental equivalents, could not care less if British industry … is foreign-owned” (Times Online, March 3). Obviously, this creates a bias (at least with Europe) that leads to more European companies purchasing British ones.

Given this situation, should the British consumer be so confident that other European and foreign countries would never attempt to coerce or threaten Britain by turning off the gas, the way Russia did to the Ukraine and consequently much of the rest of Europe earlier this year?

How about Britain’s seaports and airports? Is it far-fetched to think that a foreign nation seeking to influence or threaten Britain would do everything in its power to do so—including threatening port operations? Although Ferrovial (the company that purchased baa) is a public company, it is based in a foreign country, and its directors and shareholders are foreign. Is it a stretch to say that its loyalties are to those outside the United Kingdom? Dubai Ports World, the company that purchased once-British p&o, is a state-owned corporation and will almost definitely maintain first loyalty to the United Arab Emirates, a country known for having many anti-Western radicals and extremists. What about nuclear power plants—should they be owned and operated by foreign interests?

The reality is, “[W]hen foreign takeover reaches the current scale in such a short time, it’s a sign of weakness, not strength” (Guardian, op. cit.; emphasis ours). Sadly, for Britons the loss of ownership of these companies is even more than a security or economic concern—it is a sign that the sun has set on the British Empire.

For more information on the root cause behind Britain’s rapid decline from superpower status, refer to the book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.