In a decisive move to prioritise military effectiveness, the Ministry of Defence has torn up a contentious policy that compelled defence firms to prove how their weapons contracts would help Britain tackle climate change and modern slavery.
The so-called 'social value' rules, introduced in 2021, required bidders for government contracts to score a minimum of 10% on criteria unrelated to defence capabilities. This included demonstrating their environmental credentials and ethical supply chains.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has now abolished this mandatory threshold, branding the policy as 'woke' nonsense that diverted focus from the primary goal of securing the best equipment for the Armed Forces. The move is seen as a significant shift away from embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets into the heart of UK defence procurement.
The policy had been a source of major frustration within the defence industry. Top executives argued that it created unnecessary bureaucracy, increased costs, and was fundamentally at odds with the purpose of manufacturing equipment designed for national security.
Under the new guidance, while companies can still choose to include social value proposals, their score will no longer be a pass/fail gateway to winning lucrative contracts. The quality and price of the military equipment will once again become the paramount concern.
This policy U-turn has been warmly welcomed by defence chiefs and industry leaders alike. They argue that in an increasingly dangerous world, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the UK's focus must be on bolstering its defence capabilities without being hamstrung by ancillary social agendas.
The change signals a clear intent from the government to streamline procurement and ensure that the UK's defence industry is laser-focused on delivering cutting-edge, battle-winning technology for our troops.
