Tony Roulstone joins Labour’s defence procurement review task force

The review will bring together military, defence and business expertise to focus on both security and industrial priorities. In addition to Tony Roulstone, former Managing Director of Rolls Royce Nuclear, the Review Team includes Bill Thomas, former Senior Vice President and General Manager (EMEA) for Hewlett-Packard and Lord Alan West, former Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord.

In an article for UK Defence Forum published this week, Jim Murphy has said that we must face up to, and learn lessons from the mistakes of the past. He has called for the review to advise on urgent improvements in defence procurement.


“Labour’s record on defence is strong, but despite all the investment and improvements, some of the problems which plagued all Governments continued. We have to be big enough to acknowledge mistakes were made. We are determined to learn lessons from mistakes and make changes for the future. Our priority in this review will be to find ways to speed up and reduce costs of delivery”.

Commenting on his new role, Tony Roulstone said

“Having been involved as a supplier of complex systems for tanks, planes and ships over many years, I welcome this opportunity to work as part of the Labour Review to re- thinking how we provide the best value equipment for our servicemen delivered in a much more timely manner.

“In recent years we have seen how hard this has become and that a fundamental rethink of how we procure systems and equipment is required.”