James Ashton: Shire swoop won’t ruffle feathers

Marshal the politicians, waken the scientists: another great British pharmaceutical name could be about to fall into American hands. Oh, hang on.

The pursuit of Shire has much in common with AstraZeneca’s takeover tussle — an eager predator and resistant prey — but public outcry will not play a part.

Don’t expect questions in the House or trenchant editorials anywhere other than Pharma Times and the Basingstoke Gazette, where Shire keeps a base.

That’s because this world leader in various rare diseases doesn’t make much here or employ many people. It uses London as a corporate hub and little more.