You may blame the politicians but it is the twin wing master race who act as our leaders who make the decisions. As has been stated, MRA4 was sacrificed to pay for the continuing Tornado fleet. The aircraft have been built and paid for, it's the support costs you are saving here plus the PDS that will inevitably have been required.
Will the good old US of A support our maritime requirements? Only if it suits them.
As for the loss of a skill base that has taken decades to build up, one can only guess the consequences.
The first flight of the ac was in August 2004, for it to take until now for the ac to be delivered must surely question the competency of BWOS, sorry, BAES, to be a defence contractor.
We are a maritime nation which. I believe, brings in 90% of its trade by sea. To have no method of patrolling that sea is tantamount to incompetency. But then were are talking of senior officers and politicians.