There is continuing debate about using government procurement to strengthen UK manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. The Guardian, for example, reports calls from UK fashion manufacturers for NHS and military uniforms to be manufactured domestically. Supporters argue that public procurement could sustain UK manufacturing capacity and reduce supply-chain vulnerability.

The Financial Times has separately questioned whether a “buy British by default” approach to defence procurement is practical given the highly international nature of defence supply chains.

Buyers increasingly must balance several objectives:

price + resilience + social value + security of supply + domestic capability + competition.

Lowest price alone becomes increasingly difficult to defend as a complete procurement strategy where supply continuity is critical.