The Ministry of Defense will “continue to explore a variety of options to augment the capabilities” of those warships instead.
OK here goes nothing, while it is best to keep a Carrier off shore in blue water for defensive reasons many places around the world like the Gulf make that impossible or difficult. Given that our carriers are late, will have a few F35s and not a huge amount of hitting power a suggestion.
Why not send the carriers to sea with the British Army's MLRS system on board? It has a reach of 70km, can use guided munitions and can accurately hit shore based targets. It might also have a useful defensive role against surface ships seeking to attack the carrier group. MLRS weighs about 24 tonnes the ships two lifts can lift 2 F35s each. The decks of the carrier are heat resistant to cope with the F35 so MLRS hardly likely to do more than scorch them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M270_M..._Rocket_System