British Royal Air Force recruitment manager resigns in protest of alleged pause on hiring white men

A senior recruitment manager for Britain’s Royal Air Force recently tendered her resignation in a protest against the move to pause hiring white male recruits to focus their attention women and ethnic minorities, according to a report. 

Defense sources informed Sky News that the officer cited concerns that this alleged policy would hinder fighting capabilities of the RAF. The officer also said that the diversity targets the RAF set itself would be “impossible” to meet.

Rishi Sunak, who along with Liz Strauss is campaigning to be the next Prime Minister of the UK issued a statement through a spokesperson regarding the matter.

“The only thing that should matter in recruitment is the content of your character, not your sex or the color of your skin,” the spokesperson said in a statement to the media. “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.” 

A spokesperson for the RAF hit out the allegations and stated that this policy doesn’t exist. “There is no pause in Royal Air Force recruitment and no new policy with regards to meeting in-year recruitment requirements,” the spokesperson said.

“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.

“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.”

A ministry of defence spokesperson also said that adjusting entry requirements to meet diversity quotas is not something the RAF would do.

“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.”