Without cruiser caps, Britain builds the planned force

Without cumulative cruiser limits, the planned Leander, Arethusa, and Town-class fleets are likely to be built because they serve global missions and sustain politically valuable shipyard employment.

Question

Would Britain build the larger planned interwar cruiser force if the First London Treaty imposed no cumulative cruiser limit?

Short answer

Yes; global requirements and the political value of shipbuilding jobs would strongly favor completing the program.

Notes

The Royal Navy had persistent demand for cruisers across its worldwide stations. Removing aggregate treaty limits lets that demand translate into construction rather than forced substitution between classes. Cruiser programs also distribute skilled work to named towns and constituencies, making cancellation politically costly. Modern ship naming shows that naval procurement still links strategic need, industrial employment, and parliamentary geography.