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Former RAF chief accused in commons of ‘lying’ over the service’s discrimination against white male pilots – after allegedly ordering female and minority recruits to be prioritised on training courses
By MARK NICOL
Published: | Updated:
A senior MP used parliamentary privilege to accuse a former RAF chief of ‘lying’ over the service’s discrimination against white male pilots.
Shadow foreign office minister Alicia Kearns told the Commons a recently retired Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) had made statements denying the practice, which he knew to be false.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, she claimed she had documents that ‘proved beyond doubt’ her allegation, though she did not name the individual commander.
The CAS caused furore within the service after sending an email ordering female and ethnic minority recruits to be prioritised on training courses.
It was found the order, which became public after the RAF’s recruitment boss quit in protest, was discriminatory and illegal.
Tory MP Alicia Kearns used parliamentary privilege to accuse a former RAF chief of ‘lying’ over the service’s discrimination against white male pilots
Pictured: Group Captain Lizzie Nicholl, the RAF’s former head of recruitment, who blew the whistle on female and ethnic minority candidates being loaded onto training courses ahead of white men
Whistleblower Group Captain Lizzy Nicholl got ‘offered a derisory £2,000’ by the RAF after losing her career.
A Non-Statutory Inquiry (NSI) report found the RAF dismissed Gp Capt Nicholl’s concerns and pressured her to carry on regardless.
It said the policy amounted to positive discrimination, which is illegal, rather than positive action, which is legal.
Sir Keir Starmer pledged action. The RAF declined to comment.
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