Roadster, not sure if you took it the other way, but I'm suggesting its the Brits who are pleading don't cancel. I fear cancellation of 35B would hit the UK harder than the US - for whom it is only represents an irritating and embarrassing but otherwise minor capability loss.
I read into the article that the UK may have intel that some in the US are thinking about canning the B, and Phil is worried, which is why he's telling the US - in a round about way - how much we value it. But maybe I'm reading too much into it.