A Royal Navy captain has resigned from his command of a nuclear-powered submarine following an investigation into inappropriate messages sent to a Scottish Labour MP. Captain James Clark was removed from his post aboard HMS Audacious in late 2025 after allegations surfaced regarding his conduct.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed an investigation was launched after concerns were raised about "inappropriate communications" between the captain and a female MP. While the exact content of the messages has not been publicly disclosed, they were described by sources as "flirtatious" and a breach of the service's strict code of conduct.
The MP involved has been identified as Kirsty Blackman, the Scottish National Party MP for Aberdeen North. The Royal Navy stated that the matter was dealt with swiftly and that Captain Clark subsequently offered his resignation, which was accepted. A new commanding officer has been appointed to HMS Audacious, a Astute-class attack submarine.
The incident highlights the armed forces' ongoing efforts to enforce professional standards. A Royal Navy spokesperson said, "We expect the highest standards of behaviour from all our personnel and will always take appropriate action where those standards are not met."
