Would very much doubt if Winston had anything to do with it as at the time of its proposal he was a back-bench MP with no power at the time, although he was militant. The Defiant, Blackburn Roc and Hawker Hotspur were big mistakes, the idea coming from the Hawker Demon, which was a converted light bomber. The weight (30% higher than a Hurricane) gave it a top speed 10% lower with half the armament (and a gunner with almost no chance of escape). Although it did have some success over Dunkirk, this was mainly due to German pilots being unfamiliar with it and attacking from behind, however the Germans soon learnt the lesson and attacked from below. With more powerful engines (Merlin XX) the Defiant II was better as a night fighter, the earlier model having difficulties overtaking enemy bombers, and even later models with AI radar still suffering from the lack of armament. Like most fighters it ended its days in support roles, primarily target-towing but also some ASR and electronic Countermeasures, but the Defiant was withdrawn from service in April 1945 (last night fighter use in July 1942 and day fighters withdrawn in August 1940). Total production was 1061 (Roc production was 136 for the FAA with only the prototype Hotspur being built)