WEBF,
It is certainly true that the loss of a UK fixed wing carrier capability has placed significant additional risk to pink bodies when we do rebirth conventional fixed wing carrier aviation in 8 or 9 years.
A 10-year gap from Harrier STOVL ops to future STOVL ops in the F-35B would have been challenging enough to maintain partial currency and then regain full currency; the environmentally brutal F-35B would certainly have been a cold shower.
It is more stark for the F-35C on a conventional deck. The mechanics of a CV deck demand an awareness of a flight deck that will now all but evaporate between now and then.
There is no doubt that some underestimate what effort will be required to produce a safe and assured ship's crew (on, above and below decks) and we have made life much more difficult by not maintaining some element of continuity that we have control over.
As for leasing Harriers, whilst the sentiment is understandable, such an endeavour may be more complex than focussing time, effort and money into those key personnel who will then be able to bring CV expertise into the QE Class (whether it be just QE of hopefully both QE and PW that get cat/trap conversion.)
The US and to a lesser extent France will be key in the UK aspiration to deliver conventional fixed wing from the QE Class as part of the wider joint delivery of effects from the QE platforms.
FB11