I have never been a fan of the the Nimrod MR4 and can understand the logic that having a fleet of 9 aircraft which no other countries operates would be a huge financial burden.
The fact that smaller countries such as New Zealand and Portugal etc. which have like the UK huge Economic Exclusion Zones (EEZ) are prepared to operate maritime patrol aircraft makes me wonder that the UK has made a huge mistake. Even Italy which like many other countries is financial crisis is replacing their Atlantic a/c with ATR72 maritime patrol aircraft so they have some capability.
With a large nuclear submarine fleet to protect, a huge EEZ to Police and protect, SAR responsibilities etc. the UK will regret the decisions made in this defence review.