Latest news with #TonyRadakin
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
No 10 has ‘full confidence' in Navy chief despite Afghan leak
Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman has insisted he has full confidence in the head of the Royal Navy after he was implicated in the Afghan data leak. A Downing Street spokesman said that Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins was not responsible for the leak, nor involved in sending the spreadsheet – which resulted in many of the names being posted on the internet. The document was sent by a Royal Marine, who was in charge of vetting asylum seekers, to a group of trusted Afghan contacts in the UK. The soldier worked out of the Regent's Park Barracks in central London under the command of Gen Sir Gwyn. They emailed the list twice before the mistake was discovered, and it is unknown whether they remain in post. The incident has poured fresh scrutiny on Gen Sir Gwyn, who was in line to serve as the UK's next national security adviser before the 2024 election was called. The senior officer has attracted some controversy in recent years, including over the accusation that he covered up alleged extrajudicial killings by serving members of the SAS in 2011. It has been reported that after the Government discovered in August 2023 that the Afghan leak had taken place, ministers convened a Cobra meeting in Whitehall and invited Gen Sir Gwyn. It was reported that one minister asked him if either he or Adml Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, should resign. According to reports, he responded: 'Certainly not.' On Tuesday, Sir Keir's spokesman was asked whether the Prime Minister retains full confidence in his naval chief. The spokesman replied: 'He does.' Downing Street added that Gen Sir Gywn had 'no role in any aspect of [Afghan resettlement schemes], including decision-making.' Gen Sir Gwyn, a former commander of the Special Boat Service, was placed in charge of all special forces working in Afghanistan in October 2011 and served in the country for five months, before returning to London to work in Downing Street for Lord Cameron, then prime minister. While working in Afghanistan, he received a report that members of the SAS had carried out extrajudicial killings in the country, in violation of international law. Gen Sir Gwyn referred the matter to his senior officer, but it has since been claimed the matter should have been reported to the Royal Military Police (RMP). In October 2023, Lord Hermer, now the Attorney General, claimed Gen Sir Gwyn had failed to alert the RMP to potential war crimes when he was a commanding officer of the Special Boat Service. The episode was uncovered by an inquiry into alleged murder by SAS officers in Afghanistan, which is ongoing. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said at the time that it was 'not appropriate ... to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry'. After leaving Afghanistan, Gen Sir Gwyn served as the No 10 deputy national security adviser, commander of 3 Commando Brigade and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff – a military desk job in the UK. Between 2021 and 2022, the time of the leak, he was serving as Director Special Forces, the officer with overall command of UK special forces operations. He was accused by a BBC Panorama programme in May of, in that role, personally overseeing the rejection of some 1,585 Afghans who served with the SAS before the UK's withdrawal from the country in 2021. It was claimed that he might have allegedly blocked the applications to avoid witnesses travelling to the UK and appearing before the statutory inquiry, but the MoD said there was 'no evidence' that was the case. Prior to the 2024 election, Rishi Sunak announced that Gen Sir Gwyn would replace Sir Tim Barrow as the UK's national security adviser. However, the appointment was cancelled by Sir Keir when Labour won the election, and Jonathan Powell was announced for the role. In May, Gen Sir Gwyn was named as the Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, replacing Sir Ben Key, who was sacked for having a relationship with a more junior officer.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Former head of Royal Navy sacked after conduct ‘fell far short'
An investigation into former Royal Navy head Admiral Sir Ben Key found he fell 'far short of the values and standards expected'. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said a full investigation has resulted in the termination of his service and commission. 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.' Admiral Sir Ben said: '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.' Sir Ben was the first sea lord from 2021 until May this year, when he was succeeded by General Sir Gwyn Jenkins of the Royal Marines. Educated at Bromsgrove School, in Worcestershire, Admiral Sir Ben joined the navy in 1984 as a university cadet. He qualified as both helicopter aircrew and as a principal warfare officer and as a junior officer saw service around the world in a variety of frigates and destroyers.
Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Royal Navy head Sir Ben Key sacked after misconduct inquiry
Admiral Sir Ben Key has become the first head of the navy to have his service terminated after an investigation found his behaviour had 'fallen far short of values and standards' expected of service personnel. Key, 59, a married father of three, is no longer an admiral but he will keep his pension. He was suspended in May over claims that he had an affair with a subordinate and he was told to 'step back from all duties' while an investigation was carried out. In the mean time, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, a Royal Marine, was named as his replacement. It was the first time in the Royal Navy's 500-year history that its first sea lord has faced a misconduct inquiry. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said that after a full investigation his service had been terminated, as well as his commission. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the armed forces, 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.' Key said in a statement that serving as first sea lord had been 'one of the greatest privileges of my life' and he 'deeply regrets' his conduct in the spring of last year.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Former Royal Navy head sacked as MoD says behaviour fell ‘far short' of values
The service of the former Royal Navy head Adm Sir Ben Key has ended in disgrace after an investigation found he fell 'far short of the values and standards expected'. Key was reportedly suspended from his role as first sea lord in May over claims he had an affair with a female subordinate. A full investigation has resulted in the termination of his service and commission, the Ministry of Defence said. The chief of defence staff, Adm 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.' More details soon …
Sky News
02-07-2025
- Sky News
Former head of Royal Navy sacked
The former head of the Royal Navy Admiral Sir Ben Key has been sacked following an investigation. In a statement, 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." In May, Sir Ben stepped back from the job after the investigation was launched. It is understood that the probe looked into an alleged relationship with a female colleague. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
