Why warship contracts went to politically important yards

Did a Sea Lord influence where warships were built?

Yes. The Third Sea Lord and Controller could award contracts to yards in important constituencies, using the employment consequences to make cancellation harder.

The Third Sea Lord and Controller had substantial influence over where warship contracts went. Town-class orders in both the 1910s and 1930s illustrate how employment affected the choice of yards. Placing work in important constituencies with low employment also made cancellation politically harder. County-class cancellations drew protests from unions and shipyards warning the government about job losses.