air power can be provided from land bases (host nation support) in the majority of what if scenarios that will be on the table at MOD
Ivan,
I suspect you are 180deg out on this. Given the known unpopularity of the US and UK in their expeditionary warfare I suspect HNS in future wars will be even less likely in the early days of diplomacy failure....this is exactly where the CV comes into its own - both the US and (to a much smaller extent) the UK found this to be the case in Afgh.
It is interesting to note that in virtually every conflict since WW2 carrier based air has been needed and where it has been absent the UK has had difficulty in the early days of that conflict (particularly with negotiations for HNS).
The QE Class represent a very low risk option for HMG which is why they will not be cancelled.