Foreign investment in the UK has been made on the basis that it is safe, profitable and available for withdrawal when desired. Everyone knows this, investors and business/politicians alike. If either the economy or the currency becomes an unattractive proposition then there will arise a desire to cease investment and withdraw funds. Local holders of funds will also want to move their assets to a better home. The UK government will watch how strong, at any given time, the tendency to disinvest is and if the pressure on the economy/currency becomes greater than is considered sustainable then, as OG alludes to, restrictions on transfers out of the country will be imposed. Hitherto the policy has been to have a fully free regime in this regard. The circumstances can and may well seriously change. Sterling is a relatively weak currency and if things become difficult there is not much room for liberal choices unless a major loss of value is considered both acceptable and desirable.