Big sell-off to US is already underway

■ Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has allowed an American private equity firm to buy UK defence giant Cobham, stating that the security risks are now at an “acceptable level”.

Most countries have policies in place that restrict foreign ownership of strategic sectors on the grounds that they need to be kept in domestic hands to safeguard national security.

But not this extremely rightwing Tory Government.

Almost half of British firms are now foreign-owned, which gives the country a short-term cash injection but in the long term can cause problems of inadequate tax returns as these companies are not registered here.

So much for the Tories being the party of patriotism.

Mick Rutland Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside

■ Boris Johnson hasn’t wasted much time before starting the great British sell-out to America with the announcement that US equity firm Advent International is to take over one of our most prestigious defence firms, Cobham, in a £4billion deal. Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom says UK security safeguards are in place, but let’s be clear, America doesn’t buy anything it can’t control. Mark my words, this is just the beginning – get ready for chlorinated chicken and US health firms buying up our NHS. Johnson will sell our souls to Trump. Douglas Higgins, Liverpool

■ It’s a sign of things to come that the Government has agreed to the takeover of UK defence and aerospace firm Cobham by a US private equity company with the risk this could lead to asset-stripping and pursuit of profit.

The Tories were once renowned for prioritising defence. But now all the moderate Tory MPs have been expelled the priority is to get Brexit done at all costs. Then they can conclude a US trade deal as quickly as possible which will not be advantageous to us at all, a small island standing alone.

We shall have to accept lower food standards and higher prices for pharmaceuticals. For the first time in my life I fear for our future. Valerie Crews, Beckenham, Kent

■ Well, it didn’t take Boris Johnson long to start selling us off to the US, did it? Now he has given his approval to the takeover of Dorsetbased defence company Cobham by an American firm against the wishes of Lady Cobham. What next, the NHS? How so many people could have believed the PM’s lies and voted Tory is beyond me. I fear greatly for the future of this country.

Helen Rawles, Blandford, Dorset

■ Just two weeks in office and the privatisation of Britain begins under Boris Johnson’s rotten Tory Government with defence company Cobham sold to US equity firm Advent International.

What’s next, Boris? “Trust in me”, you said and, like fools, people believed you.

Chris Torode, Catterick

North Yorks

■ For Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom to say that the security risks over the Cobham sale are at an “acceptable level” is beyond belief. The only acceptable level is no risk at all to the security of the UK and its military personnel. Arthur Wood, Leeds

■ Why the shock that the Tories have approved the takeover of UK defence firm Cobham by a US company? It’s not as if we weren’t warned. I despair that people voted for this self-serving bunch.

C Stephens, Isle of Wight