Fair enough, but then, would the government (any democratic government for that matter) still plough back those savings into something of strategic benefit?
Another way for you to rationalise spending is to abandon the Trident programme and go for a cruise-based solution using attack submarines and aircraft.
Trident missiles based in subs are able to reach anywhere in the world, no matter how far inland, and cannot realistically be stopped. Cruise missiles have a more limited range and travel at subsonic speeds and could potentially be shot down before reaching their target. Britain’s nuclear deterrent would therefore be diminished.
Sub-based ballistic missiles are the only game in town when it comes to a reliable strategic nuclear deterrence...
Also, you are probably right about democratic governments. They tend to think short-term. And pols tend not to care about what happens beyond their next electoral term, which is why we get so much penny-pinching and poor procurement decisions, because the consequences of those decisions tend not to be felt until a decade or more later.
The only reason Britain is getting two full-sized aircraft carriers is because a lot of his constituents depend on Rosyth Dockyard, where much of the work on building them is being carried out. He sealed up the contract so tight that cancelling them would cost more than continuing with the work.
Cameron and Co would have loved to have cancelled the project but they can’t. Gordon Broon probably did this country the only favour he ever did by securing those contracts, admittedly for his own, selfish electoral reasons...