One possible reason is that the general level of frustration, disappointment, even rage, is building up out there.
Amongst the UK military, the constant "make do with less" approach, even before the credit crunch, is wearing - let alone your 4th, 5th, 6th time out to somewhere hot and sandy. Then there is working with 30yr old plus aircraft, VC10, Tristar, Nimrod, C130K, lack of people, etc
Even amongst the non military UK population, frustration is mounting during the credit crunch, with bankers, MPs perks, supposed gold plated civil servant pensions, etc. The politics of envy is surfacing generally.
All in all not happy times for many.
Of course I might be wrong - I have been before, and apparently I am naive!