Aibu to ask ‘what do ‘we’ in Great Britain, really own?

[Harva]

Spurred on by discovering that something as straightforward as Morrisons supermarket chain is owned by American investors, what in the UK is truly ours?

And is it a concern the less we own as a country?

There's a book, can't remember what it's called, that sets out what is private vs public land in the UK. Will try and find it.

Don't know about businesses.

The massive national debt...

A lot less than we used to! The Tories sold off all the public services (twats) and businesses have mostly been bought.

What difference does it make who owns Morrisons? Are you worried that it’s be delisted?

There’s this thing called the Land Registry (in England- Registers of Scotland in Scotland). Who owns land is on the public record.

We don’t own much, but far more concerning is that we don’t manufacture much, and we import a lot of food.

No need for narkiness is there?

I was referring to something more in depth, but you carry on

I would be v interested in this

Clearly a bigger picture than just Morrisons....

If we don't even own our own supermarkets what else do we/don't we own. We'd not be so ‘Great’ in the world if we have little that we own and control.

Even our biggest football team's are owned by foreign investors.

I'm interested in what this means for Great Britain.

Nothing it’s been like that for years. Even when Morrisons was listed (so before it was bought over by CD&R) it may not have been majority uK owned (and it’s shareholders could have changed from day to day. That’s modern life and business.

Guy Shrubsole’s book might be the one referred to; it’s very good if you are interested in land ownership specifically:

blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780008321710?gC=5a105e8b&gclid=CjwKCAjwm8WZBhBUEiwA178UnO7yyo_6R166u3C1T5x-KssKZWo0u3MvIYO4r2lIR33Q03-05UGyyxoCnEQQAvD_BwE

You do know the "Great" is a geographical term relative to land mass and not an adjective?

I remember the BT selloff in the early 80s. Tony Benn was (I think jokingly) asked if he would be buying shares. He responded "Why would I buy shares in something that already belongs to me?" He was speaking for all of us of course, but of course was a Leftie loony, etc etc.

Some of us opposed these things then and oppose them now.

So, Southern Water, a key utility, is majority owned by an Australian investment company. Great while they are investing, not so great if they decide not too or that they need to prioritise Australia.

Is it as simple as that?

That the more British investors in Britain, the better our services will be and the less beholden we are to other countries?

I'm genuinely interested in

• whether there are risks to Britain through foreign investment
• and which companies & services are majority British investment.

Great in land mass...but we are tiny.

‘Great’ for some of our population does mean ‘great’ as in the best, a world player....

@LadyDespair that was it! Thank you linking

Scottish Power is Spanish owned. Prob something that tells us who owns what but some the multi nationals are into everything as are venture capitalists who buy into something to sell it hopefully at a profit. Great was a Victorian term when for many of them we seemed to rule the Waves. An Empire, Navy and industry seemingly making everything for the World

Well this year England’s biggest and oldest medieval festival, at Herstmonceux Castle, was scrapped. Because the Castle belongs to a university in Canada now. Do people in Canada care about the locals’ traditions and the fact that many vendors from al of Britain had their biggest sales of the year there? Take a guess.

That is sad.
Yes, will we miss out? Will we pay more if investment is all from abroad?