Surely no-one's surprised! The whole carrier/F35 programme is far more about politics (and I'm talking big boys' politics, not the inter-service sort) than it is about capability or sustainability or any kind of military consideration.
Politicians: Since we have a carrier, we have to put aircraft on it at every opportunity. What you do with them, frankly, couldn't care less, couldn't give a sht*t.
FAA:
RAF:
