The importance of sovereign defence capability in an uncertain world

John Howie MBE | 31st March 2026 | Comment
John Howie MBE
John Howie MBE

As uncertainty spreads across the continent, now more than ever the UK should learn the value of sovereign defence capability, says John Howie MBE

Following the end of the Cold War, the UK like so many of our allies, not only accepted what we now refer to as the “peace dividend” but also continued a journey to modernise our defence procurement system. Part of the reform agenda was to move away from the dominance of single-source or non-competed contracts which made up over 70% of all MOD procurement (by volume) in 2009/10 through an increasing focus on the use of competition as the principal method of determining value-for-money. By 2021/22, competition was the basis of awarding over 50% of all MOD contracts placed, a significant increase. With that policy of driving towards competition came a willingness to open up the UK defence market to international competitors without constraint, a policy that has never really been adopted by any of our allies or competitors. Whilst this, in theory, brought the benefits of gaining access to the best available warfighting capability and allowed the UK to benefit from larger non-UK programmes...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Defence spending controversy aside, the UK cannot turn up to NATO empty-handed 

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | June 25, 2026

Labour psychodrama is simply not as important as the UK’s diplomatic commitment to its NATO allies.

The UK’s unwritten constitution: There are no real rules

Mark Leftly | June 23, 2026

The timing and in what circumstances a leader should stay or go are in flux, argues Mark Leftly.

Britain is drifting towards Italian-style instability — it is time to learn from America 

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | June 23, 2026

Love or hate the current American administration, at least they have a consistent electoral cycle where the choice of the electorate is upheld.  

Burnham’s popularity bubble is doomed to pop  

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | June 23, 2026

Andy Burnham wants an immediate coronation, but life in Westminster would quickly expose the limits of popular appeal built from a safe distance. 

Hail Andy, King of Makerfield 

William Cash | June 19, 2026

As vultures circle Downing Street, now that Burnham is back as an MP, Starmer must realise that resigning is going to be better for the Labour Party than

Musical chairs again in Downing Street

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | June 18, 2026

What will a Burnham government look like ? Lucy Carrier-Pilkington analyses what a change of prime minister will mean for the country and who will be the likely

Reform v Restore: the English civil war in Makerfield that will decide the next Labour prime minister

William Cash | June 15, 2026

With Restore and Reform tearing votes off each other, the Makerfield by-election could propel Andy Burnham into Number 10. But, asks William Cash, will Restore's percentage of the

Memo to the new Defence Secretary before the NATO summit: “It’s not all about the money”

Mace | June 12, 2026

Creating a Defence Industrial base with no new money is going to be a challenge for any Defence Secretary. But, argues defence expert William Wallace, there are several

When it comes to English police reform, do not repeat the mistakes made north of the border

Mace | June 5, 2026

The dismal results of reducing the police force in Scotland should act as a cautionary deterrent for English police reform, writes Sharon Dowey, a former member of the

Checkmate DC’s bold London move

William Cash | June 5, 2026

Tristan Breijer is the new London head of Checkmate Government Relations. The move into London gives the US lobby firm its first European base, bringing its global power-broking