The Unite union has urged the UK government to block the proposed £10.4 billion takeover bid for Sainsbury's by the investment arm of the Qatari state.
The T&G section of Unite urged the government to step in, saying it was against the "national interest" for the supermarket chain to be acquired by Delta Two, the investment fund backed by the government of Qatar.
Sainsbury's directors met on Thursday to discuss the bid, set at 600p a share in cash - 10p a share less than expected. It was outlined to the Sainsbury family, who speak for 18 per cent of the shares, by the Qataris at a meeting in Sardinia last week.
Brian Revell, the T&G's national organiser for food and agriculture, asked: "How on earth can it be in Britain's interest to allow Sainsbury's to become the nationalised property of a Gulf state?
He said the balance between the major supermarkets established when Morrisons acquired Safeway would be overturned by the move.
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