Carriers and other animals
Pro-carrier or anti carrier is irrelevant, the questions being asked by the people who write the cheque are: do we need a carrier? can we achieve the same effect with smaller carriers? can we achieve the effect with a single carrier?
But crucially:
When did a UK aircraft carrier last make a critical contribution to mil ops. And the appoved answer is "the Falklands"
Which is still seen by many pinkos in the Treasury and FO and MOD as an embarrassing neo-colonial op. It occurred nearly 25 years ago and is viewed as ancient history
Shrinking Carrier Syndrome or Non-existent Carrier Syndrome are still on the agenda.