"business and governance in the UK doesn't seem to be particularly corrupt"
You should read up on the City of London Corporation.[1][2][3][4]
[1] - http://www.vanityfair.com/society/2013/04/mysterious-residen...
[2] - http://streebgreebling.blogspot.com/2011/04/state-within-sta...
[3] - http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2011/02/london-corporati...
[4] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London_Corporation