It all comes down to money and who controls the purse strings.
The most powerful person in British politics isn't the Prime Minister, it's the Chancellor of the Exchequer (currently George Osborne MP). The Treasury is also the most powerful government department as it allocates the money that the other departments spend.
It all depends on what the Chancellor and the Treasury consider to be financially viable, not the House of Commons, the public or even the Ministry of Defence.
Mike.
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"I am the battleship Jean Bart. This name originates from a certain 'respected' privateer... Yes? You want to know what privateers are? Hmph, they are pirates that rob openly under the banner of their country."
Jean Bart from the mobile game Azur Lane.
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