Head of Royal Navy suspended pending investigation

The caput of the Royal Navy has been suspended pending an investigation.

Adm Sir Ben Key has been asked to “step back” arsenic archetypal oversea lord, sources astatine the MoD confirmed connected Friday.

Key was absent from the lineup of elder subject unit connected the Mall connected Monday for celebrations to people the 80th day of VE Day, and it is understood that 2nd oversea lord V Adm Martin Connell has taken afloat complaint until a imperishable replacement is announced.

Earlier this week the MoD said Key had departed for “private reasons”.

Key joined the Royal Navy successful 1984 arsenic a assemblage cadet, and graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London. As a inferior serviceman helium saw work astir the world, aft qualifying arsenic chopper aircrew and a main warfare officer.

He was made vice admiral successful February 2016, earlier becoming the Royal Navy’s fleet commandant and aboriginal main of associated operations until helium was appointed archetypal oversea lord successful 2021.

Over his career, helium has commanded 4 ships: the excavation huntsman HMS Sandown, the frigates HMS Iron Duke and HMS Lancaster, and the craft bearer HMS Illustrious.

An Iraq warfare veteran, anterior to taking implicit the Navy Key was besides awarded a US bronze prima and oversaw the retreat from Afghanistan.

In his existent role, helium is besides main of the naval unit and seat of the navy board, wherever helium is liable to the caput of authorities for the warring “effectiveness, ratio and morale” of the service.

Key past twelvemonth issued an unreserved apology for “intolerable” misogyny successful the Submarine Service, aft a bid of investigations crossed the navy exposed intersexual harassment, bullying and battle of women wrong its ranks.

The navy main said helium was “truly sorry” to the women who had suffered “misogyny, bullying and different unacceptable behaviours” portion serving their country. “We indispensable beryllium amended than this and bash amended than we have,” helium said.

The MoD said connected Friday: “An probe is ongoing and it would beryllium inappropriate to remark astatine this time.”