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.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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