Cap'n wrote ''If the RN took the embarked aircraft; there is a strong possibility that they would trade away JSF for a cheaper option in order to save the Carrier Programme and consign us to the second division for ever (militarily and industrially)''
conversely, without meaningful carrier strike, could we really be said to be first division?
'first division' means, to me at least, the ability to give a good slapping to anyone (bar the US) anywhere in the world at a time of our choosing and without relying on basing rights courtesy of whichever local tin-pots we've bribed with overseas aid and jump-leads.
however brilliant F-35 may be, if it can only give us, in extremis, slapping rights over western Europe and north-west Africa, then we aint first division.
i would argue that in divisional terms, CVF with 36 F/A-18F's with Storm Shadow ALCM, Meteor BVRAAM, EPavewayIV, ALARM, Harpoon, and a slack handful of E-2D's supported by half a dozen SSN with TLAM is more top trumps than 100 utterly brilliant F-35's whose range is only as good as the 'front-loaded commision' deal that we've struck with whatever dodgy dictator who owns the runways we need.