So what are the alternatives....
JTO,
As I see it there are two fundamental choices:
1. If the UK continues with a carrier programme, the only near-term alternatives are Rafale and F18 (absent a left-field purchase from Russia). The F18 successor may just become available between 2025 to 2030 IF it goes ahead and IF it doesn't encounter the same problems as the 35.
2. If the UK drops the carrier programme, then it's Typhoon and Tornado until about 2025, when we will need to replace Tornado. Upgrade of Typhoon should take place.
For either scenario, around 2020 we could reconsider our situation, including F35 (A, B or C) in the light of what we know about it at that time.
I accept that these two courses offer different capabilities.