HAD the letter from F E Sharpe (Jumping with rage, Letters November 30) been lost in the Post Office catacombs for a few years?

Wanting people to sign a petition to “bring back the Harrier”, is, sadly, two years too late.

The Harrier was scrapped too soon, especially as quite a number had recently been refurbished with the latest weaponry, radar systems, etc.

The American government happily paid £116 million for the complete inventory of 72 aircraft, knowing what an outstanding aircraft it to be and what an incredible bargain they were getting.

As America still operates the Harrier, they have an invaluable store of aircraft, and components for many years to come.

The same American Government has signed a contract to supply Britain with McDonnel Douglas, F-35s at £200 million each.

Continuing to use the one aircraft-less aircraft carrier, outlined by F R Sharpe, presents our once-proud Royal Navy as a joke to the rest of the world.

This illustrates how incompetent modern “university-to-Parliament” politicians really are.

Philip Roe, Roman Avenue South, Stamford Bridge, York.