Gentlefolk, the problem with all these fanciful suggestions is that they don't fulfill the prime directive of UK Defence spending.
That is; to transfer money from the taxpayers pockets into the coffers of redundant UK military manufacturers such as British Waste of Space (and thus via tax to the Treasury) without going through any value or quality judgment on the way.
Sadly it has to be admitted that the Comet was a disastrous design and the Nimrod has also been shown to be. No number of successful Fincastle trophy wins by great crews or other successes can excuse an aircraft design that allows it to explode in mid-air.
Had this been a design flaw in the 737 for instance the SLF of the world would be in uproar. I say scrap the knackered old things now!