Alternatively, we might sell one of the carriers, relying on cooperation with a close ally to provide continuous carrier strike capability.
And that goes back to my original comment yesterday. If we don't hold onto it, sell it to the French - a close ally, apparently - they'd be delighted with a cut price carrier and one that meets the specs and design changes that they actually requested while French Navy personnel were embedded with the CVF IPT. I believe they bought the necessary equipment from the Americans for PA2 a while back, so they can re-equip the renamed Richelieu at little cost to enable le Rafale to operate onboard. That eventually leads to the formation of a joint Anglo-Franco maritime task group as well as the use of Rafales and F-35Cs on each other nation's carriers, allowing enhanced co-operation and interoperability. Mon dieu! I have just started the carrier sharing story again.