Head of Royal Navy suspended pending investigation

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

Adm Sir Ben Key has been requested to “step back” as first sea lord, assets on the MoD showed on Friday.

Key used to be absent from the lineup of senior army group of workers at the Mall on Monday for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and it’s understood that 2d sea lord V Adm Martin Connell has taken complete price till an everlasting substitute is introduced.

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

Key joined the Royal Navy in 1984 as a school cadet, and graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London. As a junior officer he noticed provider world wide, after qualifying as helicopter aircrew and a foremost war officer.

He used to be made vice admiral in February 2016, prior to changing into the Royal Navy’s fleet commander and later leader of joint operations till he used to be appointed first sea lord in 2021.

Over his occupation, he has commanded 4 ships: the mine hunter HMS Sandown, the frigates HMS Iron Duke and HMS Lancaster, and the plane service HMS Illustrious.

An Iraq battle veteran, previous to taking up the Navy Key used to be additionally awarded a US bronze big name and oversaw the retreat from Afghanistan.

In his present position, he’s additionally leader of the naval workforce and chair of the military board, the place he’s accountable to the secretary of state for the combating “effectiveness, efficiency and morale” of the provider.

Key remaining yr issued an unreserved apology for “intolerable” misogyny within the Submarine Service, after a sequence of investigations around the military uncovered sexual harassment, bullying and attack of ladies inside of its ranks.

The military leader mentioned he used to be “truly sorry” to the ladies who had suffered “misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours” whilst serving their nation. “We must be better than this and do better than we have,” he mentioned.

The MoD mentioned on Friday: “An investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.”