Forget the outrage about Dyson’s HQ move - we need to learn from it

This move illustrates an uncomfortable truth of modern global business, writes Chris Blackhurst – today’s businesses can base themselves pretty much anywhere, and in Dyson's case, Singapore ticks all the boxes

Howls of outrage have greeted Sir James Dyson’s decision to relocate his company headquarters from Wiltshire to Singapore.

Apparently, he should remain loyal to the UK, preferring to stay here. The fact he is a Brexiteer means he is also a total hypocrite. There he is, fighting to come out of the EU, flying the flag of independence, when we will be dependent more than ever, on new trade deals and inward investment. But what does this patriot do? Within weeks of the date to leave, he only goes and jumps ship. How dare he?

I’ve got some sympathy with that argument. But what his move really illustrates is an uncomfortable truth of modern global business, one that in these islands we’ve been reluctant to confront. It is that today’s businesses can base themselves pretty much anywhere; and that vastly improved transport connections and technology mean that nowhere has a claim over any enterprise.