The unhelpful nationalism of ‘Buy British’ in defence

In a recent visit to a BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Andy Burnham emphasized the importance of both security and the companies that build and benefit from those systems. The focus on British procurement in defense has gained renewed attention, with Burnham stating that British money should be spent on British firms.

However, the push for 'Buy British' in defense may be counterproductive, as the definition of sovereign capabilities goes beyond where a company is registered. While national investment in defense can drive economic growth and support skilled employment, the emphasis on national registration can put Britain at a disadvantage. Sovereignty is now a key buzzword in UK policy, both domestically and internationally, and is often used alongside the Buy British ethos.

However, this focus on homegrown capabilities can be counterintuitive. What truly matters is whether the government can trust the capabilities being procured to be resilient. Building genuine competitors in defense should be the priority, rather than simply procuring products from British companies. The UK tech sector has long argued for changes to the procurement process, and these changes could level the playing field and improve the performance of British defense procurement.