One sell-out, coming right up
Here's what's going to happen. You all know this already. Sometime in June (or maybe a bit later, for drama) the US will yawn, roll over and hand a note to the UK. The note will say all the right things - right up to the point of making a single, solid guarantee that actually satisfies the UK demands. It will, however, promise to sort everything out when the time comes. Oh sure.
Because, of course, it's much to early to expect all of this very complicated tech stuff to be sorted out. So, you guys just go have some more shortbread pie (or whatever it is you eat) and tell the Queen that everthang's gonna be fine.
Expect a bit about how you UKers are really, really important and are much more special then those other yurpean qweers - you'll get the really good stuff, for sure. Don't worry fella.
Victory will be declared! Another mighty triumph for m'lord.
The UK will never, ever leave this programme. The leap of emotion, intellect and self-confidence required is beyond anyone in the decision making process. We are locked in. STOVL may well get canned - we'll buy CVs instead. Whatever.
Back in the US, where the real decisions are made, elements in Congress are cutting up rough - and the UK fuss is coming in handy to beat the Pentagon with, so Lord Drayson gets a polite audience. By today they don't even remember his name (and as for the other guy, well what the hell kind of parents call their kid 'Jock' anyway, god damn those Limeys are weird).
Mr England and Co. have already given the British team two fingers. Our 60-something aircraft (150 you say?? Come and see the fairies at the bottom of my garden) are now a total irrelevance and the Pentagon never wanted the second engine in the first place.
The UK served its purpose back at the one crucial point where internationalising the programme was part of the go/no-go decision. That was when we had negotiating power - and that's when the people who signed the original documents were asleep at the wheel. We will continue to pay the price for that, £2 billion and counting.
Meanwhile BAE is lining up to dispose of its Airbus share to EADS, to buy L3 - another company that (like BAE) innovates, integrates, aspirates, but doesn't do or make anything.
The entire aerospace future of the UK is being sold down the river (did nobody hear the warning bells when Salmsbury was flogged off).
Serfdom beckons for the 51st State.
Congratulations, Level 1 partner.