The pinnacle of the Royal Navy has been suspended pending an investigation.
Adm Sir Ben Key has been requested to “step again” as first sea lord, sources on the MoD confirmed on Friday.
Key was absent from the lineup of senior army personnel on the Mall on Monday for celebrations to mark the eightieth anniversary of VE Day, and it’s understood that second sea lord V Adm Martin Connell has taken full cost till a everlasting substitute is introduced.
Earlier this week the MoD mentioned Key had departed for “personal causes”.
Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a college cadet, and graduated from Royal Holloway, College of London. As a junior officer he noticed service world wide, after qualifying as helicopter aircrew and a principal warfare officer.
He was made vice admiral in February 2016, earlier than turning into the Royal Navy’s fleet commander and later chief of joint operations till he was appointed first sea lord in 2021.
Over his profession, he has commanded 4 ships: the mine hunter HMS Sandown, the frigates HMS Iron Duke and HMS Lancaster, and the plane provider HMS Illustrious.
An Iraq battle veteran, previous to taking on the Navy Key was additionally awarded a US bronze star and oversaw the retreat from Afghanistan.
In his present position, he’s additionally chief of the naval workers and chair of the navy board, the place he’s accountable to the secretary of state for the preventing “effectiveness, effectivity and morale” of the service.
Key final 12 months issued an unreserved apology for “intolerable” misogyny in the Submarine Service, after a sequence of investigations throughout the navy uncovered sexual harassment, bullying and assault of ladies inside its ranks.
The navy chief mentioned he was “actually sorry” to the ladies who had suffered “misogyny, bullying and different unacceptable behaviours” whereas serving their nation. “We have to be higher than this and do higher than we now have,” he mentioned.
The MoD mentioned on Friday: “An investigation is ongoing and it could be inappropriate to remark presently.”
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