Fox reforms at MoD
Liam Fox is expected to announce major reform at the Ministry of Defence. Good.
The armed forces themselves, as opposed to thousands of MoD pen-pushers, are likely to be able to make decisions over what kit to buy. Excellent.
Apparently, Lord Levene will head up a Defence Reform Unit. Even better.
In the mid-1980s, Levene instigated reforms that increased competition for MoD contracts. Since then, some of the progress has been undone by the way that the Defence Industrial Strategy has developed - and, some might suggest, too close a relationship between buyer (MoD) and seller (contractors).
The contractors can be relied upon to argue against it, but Levene seems to understand how competition brings better value from a finite defence budget.
If Levene is to bring real choice and competition to defence procurement, it is hard to see how the current protectionist system can survive.
Good bye protectionist purchasing and hello off-the-shelf? We shall soon see.