The head of the Royal Air Force has requested a speedy assessment of its recruiting “policies, practices and direction”.
It follows Sky News revelations that the top of RAF recruitment had resigned over what she believed to be an “unlawful” order to pick ladies and ethnic minority candidates over white males.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston mentioned he has requested the help of the Ministry of Defence to hold out the assessment – taking it outdoors the power’s chain of command.
This is an indication of how severe the considerations about recruitment are being taken.
He mentioned the assessment “will seek assurances on current and proposed recruiting practices, with recent reporting in mind”, based on an announcement launched on Friday.
The embattled air power chief mentioned an preliminary evaluation can be prepared by 7 September, when the air power’s board of senior leaders is because of meet.
He has additionally invited the defence secretary and different defence ministers to attend the assembly to debate coverage relating to personnel.
The extremely uncommon transfer comes after Air Chief Marshal Wigston wrote to all of the air power on Thursday to say he’ll deal with “as a priority” a sequence of “legitimate questions” raised within the media over variety targets within the air power, allegations of sexual harassment and bullying inside the Red Arrows and criticism of the army’s flying coaching.
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“As I wrote to RAF colleagues, our values and standards, our culture and behaviours, and our determination to meet the MOD’s level of ambition for diversity will all be the focus of the next Air Force Board meeting,” he mentioned within the newest assertion.
“Our primary role is to defend the UK and our allies, that responsibility will never be compromised.
“But having the ministerial staff be part of will allow us to set out the work now we have been doing to deal with considerations on this space and in addition to debate how we progress towards an organisation that may draw from the widest doable pool of expertise.”
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, head of the Defence Select Committee, called for the defence secretary to update MPs in the House of Commons following the Air Force Board meeting.
Writing on Twitter, he said: “I encourage the defence secretary to replace the House of Commons, in individual, after this assembly.”
His committee has already launched into its personal investigation into the RAF and is about to ask the top of the service to face questions.
The Air Force Board assembly will happen after a brand new prime minister is introduced, so it’s not sure Ben Wallace – present defence secretary – will stay in submit.
However, he’s effectively regarded and most defence insiders count on him to stay within the job.
Source: information.sky.com”