M&A advisers in the City believe a Conservative government could find it harder than it thinks to enforce tough new rules governing the takeover of British companies, if it comes to power at next month's general election.

The Conservative Party manifesto, unveiled by Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday, included bold policies on the future handling of takeovers of domestic companies by foreign buyers. It included pledges to ensure "all promises and undertakings made in the course of takeover bids can be legally enforced afterwards", and the ability for government to "pause" deals while greater scrutiny is applied to terms.