VC10 was part of TSR2's problems. George Edwards was wrapped-up with VC10 and BAC-111 and didn't give TSR2 the attention it needed until it was too late. Conversely, he seemed to think Vickers had a divine right to handle the programme when by any standards it would have been better under EE's control. He even demanded that the prototype should make its maiden flight from Brooklands on the basis that the VC10 had just succeeded in doing the same thing, which demonstrated how poor his grasp was of TSR2's potential and performance.
Ultimately, it was the Government's fault for driving the programme by committee and for blackmailing Vickers and EE into a merger in order to get the contract for TSR2. It ran out of control with over-specification being added repeatedly until it was so expensive (and arguably obsolete, once East of Suez was abandoned) that the next Government was certain to scrap it in favour of F-111 and AFVG. Edwards was a great man but he really should have concentrated on the VC10 and BAC-111 and left TSR2 to EE, and then it might have survived.
