Given the latest and loudest calls yet for austerity over the coming years it is pretty clear if it wasn't before (and it was ) that the MOD won't be procuring an MMA, MPA any time in the foreseeable future.
The perceived real or not need for the capability is sadly irrelevant with the future spending plans.
The cynic in me questions whether or not there was actually anything spotted off the West coast at all or was it actually a well timed piece of propaganda by the pro maritime brigade?
The larger question does remain, do we need the outrageously expensive Trident replacement?
Who exactly is it deterring? not the terrorists!
And can it be done with a modern, cheaper alternative? Surface, subsurface and air launched TLAM?