Latest news with #FirstSeaLord
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Telegraph
First Sea Lord stripped of rank over affair with younger officer
Sir Ben Key has been stripped of his rank after being dismissed from the Royal Navy for having an affair with a subordinate. The former First Sea Lord was sacked from the Navy's top job earlier this year after it was discovered he had had an affair with a colleague. The Telegraph revealed last month that the affair was exposed after the husband of the female colleague Sir Ben was having the affair with filed a complaint. An investigation into his behaviour has now been completed by the Ministry of Defence, and Sir Ben has had his service terminated and been stripped of his commission. The investigation, which took two months to conclude, found Sir Ben's behaviour had fallen 'far short of values and standards expected of Service Personnel'. Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: 'We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our Service Personnel and our Civil Servants. 'We investigate all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and will take robust action against anyone found to have fallen short of our standards, regardless of their seniority.' Sir Ben, 59, said that he was grateful for the support of his wife and family. He said: 'Serving as First Sea Lord has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I pay tribute to the dedicated and professional Officers, Sailors, Royal Marines and Civil Servants who make up the Royal Navy. 'I deeply regret my conduct in the spring of last year, which fell well below the standard I set for myself and that which I set for the Royal Navy. As such, I fully accept the decision of the Defence Council. 'I am very sorry to those I have hurt personally, and I apologise to everyone who serves with the Royal Navy. 'Finally, I am very grateful for the support of my wife, family and friends during a very difficult time.' A source told The Telegraph that when Sir Ben's affair was reported to the MoD, he tried to go away 'quietly', however an investigation was insisted on. While Sir Tony, CDS, was inclined to let Sir Ben retire quietly to avoid embarrassment, General Dame Sharon Nesmith, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, and John Healey, the Defence Secretary, felt an inquiry should take place. Sir Ben will continue to receive his pension despite his dismissal from service. It is the first time in 500 years that the head of the Royal Navy has been investigated for misconduct.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Married head of Royal Navy sacked after inquiry into affair with female colleague
The head of the Royal Navy has been sacked following an inquiry into his extra-marital affair with a female colleague, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. Admiral Sir Ben Key had been suspended while claims of his relationship were investigated by senior officers. The First Sea Lord is one of the highest ranking military officers to be dismissed from this country's armed forces for inappropriate behaviour. The married father-of-three, who was previously entrusted with leading investigations into sexual abuse within the Royal Navy, has also been stripped off his commission. Sir Ben, 59, was ordered to step back from his duties in May over claims of an affair with a female officer. It then emerged last month how the probe into his conduct was launched following a complaint by the husband of the female officer. The non-serving husband filed a formal complaint to the Ministry of Defence when he learned of his wife's behaviour. The subsequent inquiry looked into whether Sir Ben's affair breached strict regulations barring sexual relations between commanders and those in their chain of command. Sir Ben, who is understood to be a practicing Christian had been considered a candidate to lead the UK's armed forces. In a statement released tonight, he said: 'Serving as First Sea Lord has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I pay tribute to the dedicated and professional Officers, Sailors, Royal Marines and Civil Servants who make up the Royal Navy. 'I deeply regret my conduct in the spring of last year, which fell well below the standard I set for myself and that which I set for the Royal Navy. As such, I fully accept the decision of the Defence Council. 'I am very sorry to those I have hurt personally, and I apologise to everyone who serves with the Royal Navy. 'Finally, I am very grateful for the support of my wife, family and friends during a very difficult time.'
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Revealed: 'Love cheat' Navy chief Sir Ben Key's affair with junior female officer was 'exposed after her husband reported them to the MoD'
An affair involving the suspended head of the Royal Navy and a junior female officer was exposed by her husband, sources have revealed. Admiral Sir Ben Key, 59, was told to 'step back from all duties' last month over claims the married father of three had an affair with a female officer. At the time, allies of the former First Sea Lord claimed the allegation was part of a 'dirty tricks campaign' against Sir Ben following months of fierce in-fighting at the top of the Armed Forces. But now it has emerged the 'consensual' relationship came to light after the officer's non-serving husband filed a complaint with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), The Telegraph reported. It is understood the husband believed Sir Ben should be held accountable to the same standards as those beneath him. He stands accused of breaching regulations barring sexual relations between commanders and those below them in rank, while endangering the marriage of a comrade is also forbidden. A source said: 'The husband was upset, because this is a man who prides himself on his Christian values and how he was raised by missionaries – but was doing this with someone else's wife.' Sir Ben, who was formerly in the running to become the next Chief of the Defence Staff, now faces a misconduct probe. Admiral Sir Ben, pictured with his wife Elly, is the subject of a misconduct probe following a complaint to the Ministry of Defence about the affair It is the first time in the 500-year history of the Navy that its First Sea Lord has come under such scrutiny. Insiders understand that he had attempted to retire 'quietly' once the affair was exposed, but General Dame Sharon Nesmith, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, and John Healey, the Defence Secretary, insisted on an investigation. Many female officers particularly are understood to have felt 'let down' by Sir Ben's double standards. The source said: 'The female naval workforce feels shockingly let down by his moral high stance and hypocrisy.' In March, Sir Ben appeared in Parliament to provide oral evidence on the treatment of women in the armed forces and commented on 'unwelcome sexual behaviours'. He told the defence select committee: 'We are absolutely determined to create a Royal Navy in which people are judged for their professional conduct, welcomed for the contribution that they make, and accepted for who they are. 'Behaviours that run counter to that will not be accepted, and particularly those around unwelcome sexual behaviours. 'We have removed people from the service, including those who have commanded, where we have discovered that their behaviours were not appropriate, or we have removed people from positions of responsibility before situations have got out of hand.' In March, Sir Ben appeared in Parliament to provide oral evidence on the treatment of women in the armed forces and commented on 'unwelcome sexual behaviours' Those close to Sir Ben previously told MoS that they were 'shocked' by the news of an affair. A senior Navy source said: 'Across the board he is very popular, very competent and the majority of the naval service are extremely shocked and really sad to see it potentially end like this.' Another insider added: 'He is a stand-up bloke and treats everyone well.' His wife Elly has previously told of the 'burden' being in the Navy can place on family members. Last week Sir Gwyn Jenkins became the first Royal Marine to be appointed as head of the service. An MoD spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment while the investigation into the matter continues.
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
First Sea Lord's ‘affair' exposed after husband filed complaint
The First Sea Lord's alleged affair with a female subordinate was exposed after her husband filed a complaint, The Telegraph can reveal. Last month, Sir Ben Key was forced to step back from all duties over allegations of misconduct, which are under investigation by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It was alleged that, in breach of the Navy's service standards, the 59-year-old was having an affair with a junior ranking staff member. It is understood that the non-serving husband of the female member of staff reported his findings to the Ministry of Defence after he discovered the 'consensual' relationship between Sir Ben and his wife. He felt as though the head of the Navy should be held to the same standards as those below him as Sir Ben has regularly spoken out about poor behaviour of those under his command in the past. A source familiar with the events told The Telegraph: 'The husband was upset, because this is a man who prides himself on his Christian values and how he was raised by missionaries – but was doing this with someone else's wife.' 'Tried to go away quietly' Sir Ben, who is married with three children, had previously announced that he would retire as First Sea Lord this summer, despite being considered a frontrunner to become the next Chief of the Defence Staff. Earlier this week, The Telegraph reported that Air Marshal Sir Richard Knight, currently Chief of the Air Staff, will take over the post in the autumn when Admiral Sir Tony Radakin stands down. It is understood Sir Ben tried to go away 'quietly' when he learnt that his extra-marital affair had been discovered, but that the Chief of the Defence Staff insisted there would be an investigation before his official retirement in order not to be accused of a 'cover-up'. The source added that a number of female officers within the Navy felt they deserved a public apology from Sir Ben over what they deemed to be 'double standards'. 'The female naval workforce feel shockingly let down by his moral high stance and hypocrisy,' the source said. 'Judged for their professional conduct' Earlier this year, during a parliamentary defence select committee discussing women in the Armed Forces, Sir Ben expressed his disapproval of inappropriate relationships within the military. He said: 'We are absolutely determined to create a Royal Navy in which people are judged for their professional conduct, welcomed for the contribution that they make, and accepted for who they are. 'Behaviours that run counter to that will not be accepted, and particularly those around unwelcome sexual behaviours. 'We have removed people from the service, including those who have commanded, where we have discovered that their behaviours were not appropriate, or we have removed people from positions of responsibility before situations have got out of hand.' As a serving member of the military, Sir Ben will probably have fallen foul of the Navy's 'service test', which prohibits relationships between commanders and their subordinates. The military also does not allow behaviour that could harm another serving member's marriage.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- The Sun
Fresh Royal Navy sex scandal as training base dramatically ‘locked down' over revenge porn claims
A ROYAL Navy training base was 'locked down' over revenge porn claims in the latest sex scandal to rock the senior service. Navy chiefs ordered a communication blackout at HMS Raleigh to stop X-rated images of a recruit going viral. Hundreds of rookies — including some as young as 16 and 17 — were ordered to hand in their phones. A message sent to their parents said: 'Welfare calls are being made to under-18s' parents to say that their recruits are OK but the base is on communication blackout due to an ongoing police investigation.' The Navy warned parents that the blackout — known as River City state — could last up to 96 hours. The Sun understood that two recruits at HMS Raleigh, in Torpoint, Cornwall, had been in a relationship prior to joining the Navy. A Navy source told The Sun: 'They had joined in separate intakes and when the young woman enlisted, some time after her former partner, she discovered that intimate pictures had been shared on the base without her consent. "By that point her former partner had already left the Navy. He never completed training. 'Only one person is under investigation. No other recruits are suspected of wrongdoing.' The Royal Navy said: 'The welfare of our recruits is our number one priority and a restriction on the use of mobile phones was in place for a short time. "A civilian police investigation is ongoing.' The incident comes days after the Navy's most senior officer, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key, was suspended over an alleged affair, and the captain of warship HMS Tyne, Lt Cdr Martyn Mayger, was stripped of command amid claims of 'unacceptable sexual behaviour'.
