WEBF,
I think you will find the reason carrier aviation has increased in importance is because the Labour Party want to show that they are investing in the Armed Forces, not just gutting them and sending them out to be gutted.
The main problem is that Blair and Brown have such conflicting opinions.
If Blair had a Chancellor who he could make do what he wanted then the country would be bankrupt with a huge armed force.
If Brown had PM who was not the poodle of the moron in the White House then we would have a streamlined but well equipped Home Defence force.
As Sarkozy puts it so succintly but in his case self-defeatingly, one has to choose between one thing and another. No country, not even the US can afford every demand on the tax dollar.
You want something it has to be paid for.
I have said it many times before. I would cancel the carriers. Easily done since they aint been ordered yet. Cancel a replacement for Trident, same as above.
Then you have some real money to play with.
Cheers
BHR