I'm not in the services any more, so have only the public information to base my opinions on, but surely the B model is a white elephant? It is hugely complex (read fragile and unreliable) and vulnerable to combat damage (could it land conventionally on the carriers if its STOVL systems were damaged?), while having a pitifully small payload and range, while the C model seems to do away with all of those issues and should be much cheaper and more likely to work. Since the Elizabeth Class carriers will have the voids for the catapult and arrestor equipment, surely the B model should be ditched?
As for a complete alternative if the whole project is canned, could EFA Typhoon be marinised like Dasault did with the Rafale? That would support British jobs and keep more of the expenditure within the British economy, so should be politically acceptable, if feasible.