That would be such a shame! I understand that the costs are just too high to be paid by a state institution, but usually a collector's interest isn't always to use the masterpiece to educate.
Just scan the damn thing?
This feels like an attempt to shake down some local English aristocracy/bureaucracy for money.
I presume there are a zillion ways to prevent this from leaving if people really cared.
How is this not a violation of (one of) the four freedoms?
Don't worry, it may leave the UK but will definitely stay on planet Earth. Furthermore, it'll stay in our solar system, so there is little risk of something bad happening to it.
So put it under an export embargo. This press release seems like they're already preparing one anyways.
That’s how the rest of the world feels about the stolen treasures in the British Museum