Angus Hanton

Published: 21 Jan 2026

Vassal State: How America Runs Britain

Vassal State book cover

Simultaneously an eye-opening and depressing read on how the US has come to dominate the UK economically to the point of vassalisation, all done (apparently) willingly by both parties via the vehicle of mass privatisation - quite literally selling off chunks of sovereignty. Its a faced-paced, whirlwind tour which really emphasises how far the tendrils have seeped and penetrated into the UK economy in all aspects and in innumerable industries. I’m keen to to emphasise that this is primarily from a “business” perspective, not political, but the obvious problems of being so attached to a country that is both continually extracting wealth (all in the name of amoral shareholder primacy) but also becoming increasingly capricious over the past 2 decades, if not more.

While reading, it did remind me of another book around the UK’s total dysfunction, namely Ian Dunt’s How Westminster Works… And Why It Doesn’t (and in some sense eclipses this - what value does the veneer of democratic process bring when foreigners are the ones pulling the levers?) in how the solutions are absurdly, blatantly obvious in both re-vitalising and beginning the slow, difficult unwinding of extreme dependence (made abundantly clear given the irrecoverable change in US’ attitude in Trumps 2nd term) and yet feel so far away, due to either apparent disinterest in facing the facts in our incestuous political class (anything for the “special relationship”) or mass suppression of ideas due to foreign influence and “business interests” - all wanting to continue and perpetuate the leading political thought that gave rise to the total subordination of the UK in the first place.

Hanton claims to not to be “Anti-American” but specifically “Pro-British”, but it is hard to fathom how you would not grow Anti-American sentiment reflexively from the facts and figures presented here - and with… numerous ongoing current events the urgency to take radical political action to de-couple has grown significantly. Being an enemy of the US is dangerous, but being a friend truly is fatal.

“Consider this: there are two countries with close political, economic and military ties, founding members of a defensive military alliance; each is the other’s principal trading partner and they share a common language, even if there are notable differences. The senior partner controls a significant percentage of the junior partner’s domestic business, and while the junior partner is occasionally critical, it relies on the senior partner for much of its economic growth, its defence and its geopolitical muscle. I am of course, describing the relationship between Belarus and Russia… The principal difference between that relationship and Britain’s with America is that Britain still controls its own democracy. For how long will that matter…?”