This seems about as predictable as the plot from Neighbours.
Sarkozy cancels the second French carrier. Brown allows the purchase of one x CVF but cancels plans for a second. Maintenance for both is deconflicted to maintain an Anglo-French Euro carrier force with each conducting cross decking for trg and some ops when the other's ship is unavailable. Most importantly, both nations feel 'equal' on the P5 table (which let's face it, is largely what the Trident replacement is all about)
The reduced CVF purchase will also allow reductions in the wider RN surface fleet.
I hope I'm wrong. Sadly, I bet I'm not.
Regards,
MM