The C-17 is a magniciently designed aircraft, just what we need, therefore stands to reason we won't get any more, as ' suitable for task ' and ' politician ' are very rarely seen in the same sentence.
Even in the 'credit lunch'-clustre grabbing climate the procurement of such things - and helicopters - would have been accepted well by the British public, we're not all wearing shell suits with an attack dog on a lead !
( for other political parties read that as rent-boy on a lead, having no wish to exprience such things I'll defrain ).
So if there's any chance, give Westlands & Boeing a contract - no, I'm nothing to do with them...