That is an interesting plug, I can see issues with the cord wearing out though, given the twisting.
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At one time MK made a BS1363 plug which had an integral switch. As I recall, it was virtually an extra "layer" inserted between the basic plug base and the cover, making the plug pretty bulky. I think they even did one with a built-in neon indicator too.
Wow, someone else remembers them. We used to have them on all the 'electric fires' in our house due to not having switched sockets. My dad (an electrician) was insistent that the fire was turned off at its own switches, then the plug, and only then unplugged.

Does anyone else remember the very odd (large diamond shaped) plugs that would pretty much fit any available (UK) socket? You had to do various things like move plastic slides and 'screw out' the pins etc. Kind of like a large and well-built version of the travel adapter plugs, it also contained a BS1362 fuseholder. We had several on inspection (trouble) lamps. Most ingenious, but of course without sheathed pins, probably illegal now.