JFZ90, as I said, it can be read either way. I did read it from the perspective of the UK, but as you say, there are jungle drums out there suggesting it might get canned from a US perspective anyway. If the UK pulls out of it on cost grounds, then it would be another nail in the coffin, albeit not such a big one if the will was there.
That said, it's a bit late in the day to do yet another U-turn for the QEC and take F/A-18s on cost grounds (or AN Other conventional carrier aircraft).