If it is a capability (or capability gap) we need to fill, the budget it comes out of is unimportant and does not necessarily have to come solely from the Navy. The CVF will be a Joint asset therefore one could argue that it should be paid for "jointly".
Therefore maybe you should be worrying about how many Typhoon Squadrons or new tank regiments may be hit to pay for it!
(Of course we couldnt possibly touch the crab's shiny new jet could we? Even though it is very late, a generation behind the JSF and any ops would require host nation support and a plethora of Marriot hotels within commuting distance to the airbase!)
Something like 70% of the world's population live within 100 miles of the coast. Steaming a carrier with 40 plus jets with organic C2 support to just beyond the horizon sends a very serious message. I'm sure the sight of the Sea Jets low flying over Sierra Leone was enough to make the locals think twice about their actions. Its what power projection is all about, even if no shots are even fired.
Just my thoughts !!
Oggin