RAF recruitment chief quits amid diversity row over ‘pause on hiring white men’

16 August 2022, 18:40 | Updated: 17 August 2022, 08:47

The head of the Royal Air Force recruitment team has resigned amid claims the service has "paused" offering new roles to white men.

The Group Captain responsible for recruiting has left their post, but is still a serving RAF officer, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.

It comes amid claims the RAF has effectively paused recruiting white men in order to meet diversity targets.

Sky News reported that the senior female officer had imposed a temporary freeze on recruitment but the move caused a widespread backlash from officers who claim the move puts the UK's security at risk by prioritising diversity over recruiting the right candidate for the job.

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A spokesperson for Rishi Sunak told Sky News: "The only thing that should matter in recruitment is the content of your character, not your sex or the colour of your skin.

"That the Ministry of Defence would allow Britain's security to potentially be put at risk by a drive for so called 'diversity' is not only disgraceful, it is dangerous."

But an RAF spokesperson denied the allegations saying: "There is no pause in Royal Air Force recruitment and no new policy with regards to meeting in-year recruitment requirements.

"Royal Air Force commanders will not shy away from the challenges we face building a service that attracts and recruits talent from every part of the UK workforce.

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"As with the Royal Navy and British Army, we are doing everything we can to encourage recruiting from under-represented groups and ensure we have a diverse workforce.

"The Royal Air Force has a well-earned reputation for operational excellence that is founded on the quality of all our people. We will always seek to recruit the best talent available to us."

The MoD issued a long thread on Twitter, writing: “Operational effectiveness is of paramount importance and no one is lowering the standards to join the Royal Air Force. The RAF recruits for many professions and like the rest of the Armed Forces is determined to be a force that reflects the society it serves to protect.

“There is no pause in RAF recruitment and no new policy with regards to meeting in-year recruitment requirements.

“The RAF will not shy away from the challenges faced in building a Service that attracts and recruits talent from every part of the UK workforce.

“The RAF is doing everything it can, alongside the Royal Navy and British Army, to increase their recruiting intake from under-represented groups.

“The RAF offers exciting and rewarding opportunities for everyone joining the Service, and to all those who serve.

“They have a well-earned reputation for operational excellence in everything they do. Above all, relying on the quality and talent of all their people to achieve that.”