It would be a clever political move, but it could only work in the short term unless someone worked out how to make a successful business out of it, plus it doesn't exactly tally with all the rhetoric about cutting the deficit/UK debt.
Re: Astute boat 8 - it will depend on two key things.
1 - The state of the finances in about a decade's time - clearly there is no way of predicting this
2 - The construction schedule and timetable for Trident replacement. Which i think is due for replacement in the 2025-2035 timeframe.
Re: T-26 - a lot depends on the possible co-operation of the commonwealth nations - particulall with regard to their requirements relative to those of the RN.
The main worry is the SDR. I think there is a general feeling that we cannot cut the armed forces at the moment. Mostly this is due to Afghanistan, but also the developing situation in the South Atlantic (which will not require a major change from the crrent deployment levels) and the Middle East (esp. Iran and Yemen). All these areas need power projection capability that can only be provided by a navy.
The problem is that defence budgets are less entrenched than other things, such as the welfare state and NHS. By this i mean that a cut in defence spending has less direct effect on people than such things as cuts in welfare support, and hospital treatment levels - thus are easier to stomach politically. However they are arguably less important than retaining an ability to deal with states such as Iran.
I think the new parliament will realise this. However the next few months will be about political gesticulating and strategy.
