The news that First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the Royal Navy, has stepped down from his job while claims of an alleged affair with a junior female officer are investigated, have come as a shock. The armed forces have been relatively free of the sex scandals that have become so common in politics since the Second World War.
Sir Ben, a 59-year -old married father of three, has made no comment on the subject , and his duties have been taken over by Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, his deputy. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that he has stood aside for ‘private reasons’. It is the first time in the Navy’s five centuries of existence that its first sea lord has faced a misconduct inquiry.
The armed forces have been relatively free of the sex scandals that have become so common in politics since the Second World War
Despite Winston Churchill’s jibe that the only traditions of the Navy are ‘rum, sodomy, and the lash’ discipline in the senior service is so tight, and life in close quarters at sea so open to observation, that affairs or even brief encounters would soon be impossible to keep secret.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in