Leadership style forces job change for Navy commander

The Navy commander, who was ordered off his ship at Gibraltar, has been told he will not be returned to his command of HMS Somerset.

Commander David Axon was accused of bullying and harassment after complaints were made by a male junior officer on the ship and a female member of the crew.

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An investigation found that Axon’s leadership and management style fell “significantly short of the exemplary standards the Royal Navy requires of its commanding officers”.

HMS Somerset was returning from a tour of duty in the Gulf when Axon was ordered off and told to return home after the ship docked at Gibraltar.