Head of RAF recruitment resigns in row over diversity targets after ‘pause’ on offering jobs to white men
THE head of RAF recruitment has resigned in a row over diversity targets.
It is said there is now an “effective pause” on offering jobs to white male recruits in favour of women and ethnic minorities.
The female officer quit amid concerns any hiring restrictions to meet diversity targets could undermine the fighting strength of the air force, sources said last night.
A spokesperson for Rishi Sunak’s Tory leadership campaign said: “The only thing that should matter in recruitment is the content of your character, not your sex or the colour of your skin.
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“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 spokesman said: “There is no pause in recruitment and no new policy to meet in-year recruitment requirements.”
He said the RAF is doing “everything” it can to recruit from under-represented groups.
The MoD aims to increase the proportion of females entering the armed forces to 30 per cent by 2030.
The current figure stands at 12 per cent.
