I still don’t think the UK is a big enough market for Apple to be that worried about the following, but if the government and Apple escalate to the point of Apple pulling out of the UK, it would be pretty easy for the government to force all of its telecoms to ban any new iPhones from their mobile networks. So the citizens will probably not get to simply walk right around the restrictions that way, assuming the government is serious about this.

Given the desperation for economic growth in the UK, the idea that they would inflict such a massive bit of self harm on themselves over increased spying options is frankly ludicrous.

So, any visiting American businessmen with iPhones are inconvenienced? What happens when that curtails investment?

I think Apple might just have some leverage here, if they choose to exert it. Starmer's government would, at minimum become a laughingstock.

Hell, do we know whether Chucky Three uses an Android? Or would the royals get a secret exemption?