RAF chief criticised for ‘cringeworthy’ response over order to prioritise female and ethnic minority recruits
The content of a Royal Air Force order to give priority places on training courses to female and ethnic minority recruits over white men can be revealed.
The instruction, dated 3 August 2022, aimed to “sequence inflow into our service” to improve diversity, according to a copy of the email, seen by Sky News.
It prompted Group Captain Lizzy Nicholl, then head of RAF recruitment, to resign in protest at what she deemed to be an “unlawful” order in breach of equality legislation.
In the end, it was never implemented.
The revelations came as pressure mounted on Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the head of the RAF, over the furore – described by MPs this week as a “dark chapter” for the service.
“The leadership team ignored the concerns of the staff and the clear and unambiguous legal advice which was provided,” a source within the RAF said.
“I have never seen such dissent within the service and such contempt for a Chief of Air Staff. The lack of respect and disdain makes his position untenable. In football terms, he has ‘lost the dressing room’.”
The 3 August email was sent to Group Captain Nicholl by Air Commodore Jo Lincoln, Assistant Chief of Staff Workforce Requirements and Recruiting, “on behalf of AVM [Air Vice-Marshal Maria] Byford”, the Chief of Staff Personnel.
It said Air Vice-Marshal Byford, one of the most senior female officers in the military, would like “any remaining women and EM [ethnic minorities] in those priority professions that are ready” to be among those loaded onto courses even if they were not first in line.
The email concluded: “The RAF is committed to increasing diversity and hence we need to sequence inflow into our service.”
Addressing the Chief of the Air Staff about the scandal on Wednesday, Tobias Ellwood, chair of the defence select committee, called the order a “formal directive from the top”.
Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston (left) and Station Commander for RAF Coningsby Billy Cooper (right) with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (centre) at RAF Coningsby in Linconshire
He listed the chain of command, with Group Captain Nicholl receiving the instruction from Air Commodore Lincoln, who was ordered by Air Vice-Marshal Byford, “who I am guessing was ordered by her boss, the head of the air force, which I think is you”.
Air Chief Marshal Wigston avoided responding directly, saying that an inquiry into the Group Captain’s resignation was continuing and its findings had yet to be shared with him.
But he did admit that mistakes had been made when placing recruits onto initial training courses in 2021, with a “limited number” of women and ethnic minorities fast-tracked ahead of their white male counterparts.
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He put the number at around 150 personnel, although denied that any illegal discrimination had taken place.
Mr Ellwood said the number was around 160.
The source within the RAF described Air Chief Marshal Wigston’s comments – repeated in a tweet on the RAF’s Twitter account – as “cringeworthy” and unconvincing.
Air Chief Marshal Wigston, in his Twitter statement posted on Thursday, said: “At no point did the RAF recruitment process select ethnic minority and female pilots over better qualified white pilots. Over 80% of our recruits during the period in question were white men.
“The error, which we have corrected and apologise for, was fast-tracking approximately 150 women and ethnic minority recruits, who had already passed all selection standards, onto earlier initial training courses.”
The error, though, only referred to the preferential treatment given to women and ethnic minorities in 2020-to-2021. It did not address the attempt at doing the same in 2022. Nor did it clarify who was ultimately responsible for the 3 August order.
A spokesperson for the RAF said it would be inappropriate to comment further while the inquiry is going on.
England and Scotland fans have found out where their World Cup group games will be played when the tournament kicks off in June.
England, who are in Group L, will begin their tournament against Croatia in Dallas at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 17 June. They will then go on to face Ghana in Boston at 4pm EST (9pm BST) on 23 June and Panama in New Jersey, New York, at 5pm EST (10pm BST) on 27 June.
Scotland are in Group C, and their first match will be against Haiti in Boston at 9pm EST on 13 June (2am GMT the following morning).
They will go up against Morocco also in Boston at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 19 June and then Brazil in Miami at 6pm EST (11pm GMT) on 24 June.
Fans are expected to rush to sort their travel and accommodation plans now that they know where and when the matches take place.
Read more: Unapologetically political – a World Cup draw like no other
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England and Scotland learn World Cup fate
Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to find out if they will qualify.
Wales must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
If they beat these play-off opponents, they will secure their place in Group B alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
However, Northern Ireland will also be vying to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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World Cup 2026 – who England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will play
Scotland and England now know who they will face in the group stage of the next summer’s world cup.
But the fates of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales won’t be determined until they compete in pre-tournament play-off matches in March.
England are in Group L along with Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Their first match will be against Croatia, who beat them in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Pic: Reuters
Scotland’s first match will be against Haiti, in Group C.
Brazil and Morocco are the other Group C teams – both countries were also in the same opening group as Scotland in the 1998 World Cup in France.
Trump and Infantino at the World Cup draw
Wales have yet to find out if they will qualify as they must face a play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff, and then either Italy or Northern Ireland, if they are victorious.
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If they can overcome these play-off opponents then they will secure their place in Group B along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. But Northern Ireland will also be vying and hoping to guarantee their spot in the same group if they can beat Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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‘Bring it on!’: Scotland fans react to World Cup draw
The Republic of Ireland also need to get through the play-offs first and are paired against the Czech Republic for their semi-final. Should Ireland win that match, they will need to beat either North Macedonia or Denmark to get to the finals where an opening group containing joint hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea awaits.
This was a World Cup draw like no other. Crafted less for the teams but for one man.
The choice of venue. The creation of a new trophy. The closing music act.
Donald Trump was lavished with the adulation he craves by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and feels others unfairly deny him.
Knowing how much being overlooked by the Nobel Committee hurt the US president, there was Mr Infantino with FIFA’s newly-created Peace Prize to hand over. And a medal for Mr Trump to wear.
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” he said. “And beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this. We saved millions and millions of lives.”
This was all on the stage in front of an audience who turned up to find out who they will be playing at the World Cup.
England handed an undaunting route past Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Scotland paired with newcomers Haiti before tricky reunions from their last men’s World Cup in 1998 against Brazil and Morocco.
Pic: Reuters
But the show before the draw could even begin – presided over by Rio Ferdinand – took almost as long as a football match, at 87 minutes after the noon kick-off was delayed.
There was a walk of self-promotion to complete – “I guess they have to wait” – before taking his seat in the Kennedy Center. Or the Trump Kennedy Center as the president takes to calling the venue picked 1.5 miles from the White House.
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England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts to draw
“It was falling apart,” he said, delaying the walk into the auditorium. “And now it’s, it’s pretty much back.”
Mr Infantino could only watch on, beaming, at his friend.
“We had a dead country,” Mr Trump went on, “and now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world”.
There was the awkwardness of being reminded, before receiving the peace accolade, about threats to launch military strikes on Venezuela to stop the drugs trade.
“I did settle eight wars, and we have a ninth coming,” he swatted away the question. “Which nobody’s ever done before. But I want to really save lives. I don’t need prizes.”
But FIFA knew how much he wanted more gold for the collection with the prize.
More on this story:
What draw means for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
And for all the mockery and disdain targeted at FIFA, how many sports would relish having the US president spend several hours attending a procedural event determining the placing of teams in groups for a tournament?
How many would dish out the same flattery to secure direct lines to the leader of the nation staging their championship?
Many have benefited from Mr Trump’s stardust and swagger being attached to this spectacle.
Even Port Vale’s most famous fan – Robbie Williams – secured a walk-on role, exceeding his profile this side of the Pond.
And the Village People are reaping the rewards of becoming the unlikeliest of Trump hype acts.
The festivities ended with eyes fixed back up to the presidential seating and the YMCA dance being performed.
This was an afternoon that dispelled any pretence that FIFA keeps a distance from politics. It was unapologetically political. But few speak out in the FIFA world as the redistributed wealth keeps rolling back in their direction.
It would be easy to forget this isn’t entirely America’s World Cup. They’re sharing hosting with Canada and Mexico.
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‘Bring it on!’: Scotland fans react to World Cup draw
And eventually the spotlight was ceded to their leaders – very briefly – as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney drew out their countries’ names.
But it did live up to FIFA’s mantra that football can unite the world.
The neighbours were brought together here on a snowy day in Washington. And tensions – often stoked by Mr Trump with Canada and Mexico – thawed in the name of football.
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