Couldn't agree more with you Harry.
The problem is and I understand why, people are allowing emotion to cloud their judgement, just because we used to have a world leading mpa capability and just because people believe vehemently that we need one again asap does in no way reflect the realistic likelihood of it happening.
By all means plead your case, bang the drum hard, whilst at the same time allowing a modicum of realism to prevail.
I would be flabbergasted if the uk or what's left of it (post referendum) gets back into the high end mpa game.