Labour’s Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Luke Pollard MP, has vociferously condemned the treatment of female personnel within the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, known as the Red Arrows, following revelations of widespread misconduct.
“It’s outrageous that female service personnel in the Red Arrows faced widespread sexual abuse and harassment while proudly serving their country,” Pollard was quoted as saying in a recent press statement.
He highlighted a breach of the expected high standards within the RAF, pointing out, “These appalling findings demonstrate a wider pattern of unacceptable behaviour that must be rooted out.”
With an urgent tone, Pollard demanded immediate rectification: “There is no place for this behaviour in our UK Armed Forces.” He called upon ministers and the Chief of Air Staff to take swift action in protecting servicewomen and upholding the armed forces’ esteemed reputation.
In his own address, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton shared his profound regret over the incidents. “I want first to say that I am sorry and offer my unreserved apologies to any individuals that were subjected to unacceptable behaviours during their association with the Red Arrows, particularly the three women who felt they had no option but to raise their complaints directly with my predecessor,” Sir Rich Knighton said.
The inquiry laid bare a disturbing reality within the aerobatic team. “The reports show that during the period investigated, unacceptable behaviours were widespread and ‘normalised’ on the Red Arrows,” the RAF Chief admitted. He further denounced the lack of intervention from others, highlighting a ‘bystander culture’.
Sir Rich Knighton affirmed decisive action had been taken: “Actions have been taken against a number of individuals, up to and including dismissal from the Service.”
He assured the public of the RAF’s dedication to reform, expressing full confidence in the integrity of the current squadron and enforcing the sternest measures against misconduct, in accordance with the MOD’s zero tolerance policy.
What has gone wrong to result in this?
I think as in all walks of life, there are certain individuals who show no respect to others, just look at the Met.
Whatever has happened is wrong but the sort of language being used might need to be put into some sort of context. The complaints by the three personnel apparently goes back to 2017. It was reported in 2022 and has taken nearly two years to report. I do wonder what the offences were.
Apparently excessive alcohol intake – off duty – with too many RAF officers unable to keep their hands to themselves.
At least Knighton has sorted it out. Hopefully
I hope the MoD is keeping an eye out for 2nd hand 100 series Hawk, that might be suitable for the Red Arrows.
As for bad behavior, we live in a world where 2 thirds of young men aged 18-29 do not get any sex, yet the top 20% of men have more women than they can cope with. That leads to use & dump attitude among the top 20% of men. This will not change until women are willing to look at nice guys slightly down the food chain.
Natural selection is nothing new, if you are born beautiful you will have an easier ride in life than people with more ordinary genes, that is just the way life is.
Nothing is going to force women to notice “nice guys”. There is no fairness, if you are not attractive, you have to accept that and not blame the target(s) of your affection for rejecting you.
Yep, simple fact of life, attractive men and women get an easier ride through life in general, it’s a simple matter of a human pre programmed response via your hormones…
Attractive = good genetics= good breeding partner, simple procreation genetics.
If you happen to be fortunate enough to be attractive, bright and a decent person, you litteraly have the world at your feet…
I’m a decent person, so I’ve got one of three nailed👍
The only other privilege is I would add to that, is to be born into great wealth
I’m still only getting one out of the list!
The dating websites say men are willing to swipe in favour of 80% of the women on there. Women will only swipe on the top 20% of men. If this carries on, there will be a lot of lonely single people & the birth rate will collapse.
I don’t think these statistics/observations are anything new in the last 70 years, it is just a case that nowadays the situation/topic has been (over) analysed and discussed to death on SM. This is not good as it can lead frustrated males towards the angry ranty Incel mob who see themselves as victims, it’s pathetic. Women generally have higher standards than men they won’t date anyone who does not meet the standards or expectations. It is an instinctive behaviour and cannot be changed by any amount of reasoning or social rules. Sure, standards/expectations have risen because the world is not… Read more »
Where have you got that stat from? 2/3rds of young men get no sex? 😂😂😂😂😂😂
An American survey & it is likely similar here too. An older woman writing in the Daily Mail, a couple of months ago, noticed that many of the young men she met,(mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc.) had resigned themselves to never getting a girlfriend/wife. They were stoic, not incel. She started giving them compliments, not because she was after them, as she was old enough to be their mum/gran, but just to give them a little boost.
Hopfuly the RAF have got a grip on this situation it’s way not good enough.However would MR Pollard like to Get rid of the Red Arrows if Labour get in government 🙄
Rishi is posting again ..
RishAI bugged out again.
Tories considered dumping the reds, may still do. So can’t see why Labour wouldn’t dump them.
No
“widespread sexual abuse and harassment”
If they defined exactly what this behaviour is and exactly how often it was reported then we might have some context into whether these are isolated incidents or part of a bigger problem.
Probably similar to what has been occuring in garrison town pubs and nightclubs since the year dot. Unfortunately these guys are more high profile so really should be keeping their heads down a bit more than most.
Stop being logical and asking for evidence.
yeah OK….
Just had a butchers’ at the report:
Non-Statutory Inquiry – RAFAT and RAF Scampton Final Report
Talk about heavily redacted
The only justification for this very expensive circus is that it aids recruitment by advertising the service. I have never heard of any cost/benefit analysis to show how effective this might be. I think they would do more for recruitment by abolishing this toxic mess and spending the money saved on improving the accommodation for young married airmen and NCOs.
From what I can find, the Red Arrows cost £10 million a year (2020). It also requires a fee of £14,000 to £9,000 to hire the Red Arrows. £1.5 billion is being invested to fix the issue with accomandation.
You do know that the Red Arrows isn’t just a display team. They are a recruitment tool and help promote UK interests.
Well, they are already downsizing, moving the Red Arrows to Waddington and closing/closed Scampton to put a migrant camp on it. The information is from the bureaucrats at the Home Office.
Anything that gets recruitment up is a boon at the moment, not just a luxury. The Red Arrows are a useful soft-power tool, I’d be willing to bet that they do a lot more than the equivalent numbers of F35s
We aren’t that skint John. And they are a huge asset for UK plc and promoting the Armed Forces, especially the RAF. Unless the French, Italians, Spanish, Canadian,
Saudi, swiss ect display teams, or the USAF Thunderbirds or the US Navy Blue Angels are disbanded, then Reds aren’t going anywhere. 🇬🇧
Bravo.
The Red Arrow’s Hawk T.1s are all 30+ years old and show it when viewed close up (personal observations at RIAT). They aren’t going to last to 2030. With no replacements on order, expect a “capability gap” for a few air show seasons in the late 2020’s.
Don’t worry, we have an abundance of other Aircraft…. erm, oh hang on !
I’m sure MP Pollard paid the same outrage when 160 white males were discriminated against so the RAF could flick themselves off to reach diversity quotes.
Bearing in mind the recently televised politic show, by the COVID Clowns, wouldnt it be more suitable for Clown Pollard to get their mysoginistic Clowns in a row? Start at the “top”, see what occurs 🤡🤡🤡🥳💩
Its not the first time the Red Arrow have been pointed out as having a bad culture.