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The head of the Royal Navy has stepped down from his role and his successor is set to be announced shortly, according to people familiar with the matter.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key first notified the chief of defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and defence secretary John Healey last autumn of his intention to step down this summer for personal reasons, the people said.
They insisted the timing of his departure was not related to the government’s strategic defence review, expected to be published soon, adding that after 41 years of service he was entitled to step down.
Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Martin Connell, Key’s deputy, has taken full command of Royal Navy operations until a permanent successor is announced. It is standard procedure for the Second Sea Lord to take on these responsibilities should the First Sea Lord step back.
The Ministry of Defence has already interviewed candidates to replace Key and a successor could be announced in the coming weeks, the people added.
Naval personnel are expected to be notified of the changes on Tuesday afternoon.
Key was not present alongside other senior military personnel on the Mall on Monday for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, nor did he attend the annual rugby match between the British Army and Royal Navy at Twickenham last Saturday — one of the highlights of the UK military’s social calendar.
His exit comes amid increased focus on defence spending and rearmament across Europe, triggered by Donald Trump’s intention to pull back US military resources from the continent.
The Trump administration has said it expects Europe to shoulder more of the cost of ensuring its own security.
Sir Keir Starmer, who is expected to give a speech on defence later this week, has cut the UK’s international aid budget in order to fund an increase in defence expenditure, from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent from 2027. In the Spring Statement in March, chancellor Rachel Reeves also announced an additional £2.2bn for defence this financial year.
British military chiefs have urged Starmer to increase defence spending to 2.65 per cent, as the UK spearheads efforts with France to lead a “coalition of the willing” to underscore Ukraine’s security if it reaches a peace deal with Russia.
Senior UK military figures are awaiting the publication of the strategic defence review, which was led by former Nato secretary-general Lord George Robertson with support from ex-White House Russia adviser Fiona Hill and ex-deputy chief of the defence staff General Sir Richard Barrons. They handed in the final iteration of their review in early March.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, has stepped back due to private reasons and we will not comment further.”
