Navy captain in Ford Galaxy row removed from his ship

THE captain of the royal Navy’s most powerful aircraft carrier was last night flown from the ship while under investigation for misusing its official car.

Decorated Commodore Nick CookePriest, pictured, was removed from the helm of HMS Queen Elizabeth earlier this month.

it had emerged that he had driven the Ford Galaxy on personal trips – which breaches the limiting use of the vehicle for official duties, such as driving on bases.

He had been due to captain the £3.1billion aircraft carrier from rosyth, on the Firth of Forth, to Portsmouth this week before being reassigned during the investigation.

A royal Navy spokesman said: ‘ in light of the ongoing investigation, as a precautionary measure to protect both the individual and the ship’s company, the royal Navy has decided that Captain Nick Cooke-Priest will not be at sea in HMS Queen Elizabeth.’

While it remains unclear which driving trips he made, there are understood to be no accusations of fraud – and he paid for his own petrol.

Major General Julian Thompson, who commanded 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War, has called Cdre CookePriest’s sacking a ‘ridiculous overreaction’. He said: ‘A slap on the wrist would have been sufficient. it was a mistake and a silly thing to do. We live in a different age than the one i served in. We were far more bothered about defeating the enemy.’

Cdre Cooke-Priest was promoted to Commodore in October 2018 when he assumed command of HMS Queen Elizabeth – nicknamed Big Lizzie.

Speaking on Monday, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said the matter was ‘for the royal Navy to deal with’ after she was urged to look into the case.

Cdre Cooke-Priest’s replacement in command, Captain Steve Moorhouse, the current Commanding Officer of HMS Prince of Wales, was due to be appointed on May 28 – after the Portsmouth trip.