RileyDove,
"...but in reality in the last twenty five years have we really used the seaborne capability of the Sea Harrier to its fullest bar the Falklands War..."
You mean like we've used the full capability of the F3 since the Falklands War? Who's talking Sea Harrier anyway, your comment was about not putting more GR9 on board.
"...Aircraft are far easier to defend at land bases..." Quite simply, rubbish. For every way you drag up that a maritime asset is more vulnerable than sea I'll show a way that land is equally so. Which is why a military commander needs to have both to choose from.
"...Add to that the requirement and cost of ASW cover and AEW types purely to protect the carriers and the sums don't add up..." Have you seen how many people it takes to run an average DOB? In TELIC we had 500 for 10 jets. And the only thing a tactical aircraft can do is bomb stuff, a task group can do everything from bomb stuff to disaster relief and everything in between.
"...It's now a liability for them and I am sure that any force we are a member of will want our carriers to act in a similar role to the Atlantic Conveyer by unloading the Harriers as soon as possible to a land base and clearing off out of the way..." You and WEBF should go and get a room.