Another Government but the same dance?
Today, on the eve of the debate led by Baroness Kramer for the introduction of an Office of the Whistleblower as part of the Public Office (Acountability) Bill the government launch its, not so secret weapon a consultation! The immediate response from a member of the House of Lords was:
“Kicking the can down the road”
But is it? Surely to use today to launch the consultation signals that Government now recognises that reform is long over due and in the interim terrible disasters, that could have been predicted and prevented is the price of dallying.
Since Labour came to power we have been optimistic that whistleblowing reform was firmly on the horizon supported by the Jonathan Reynolds Minister at BIST and of course the Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/andy-burnham-calls-whistleblowers-end-35990730
I get it, what is said in opposition is no guarantee but watching interviews with Suzie Boniface and the progress of Hillsborough Law there has to be an expectation that with the PM’s support Whistleblowing will finally be addressed; afterall for Duty of Candour to succeed it needs a framework to support and protect the people who are compelled to speak up. Surely everyone looking at this can agree that protecting whistleblowers protects the public which will make scandals and human tragedy less likely to happen!
Anyway, a consultation does not get in the way of progress and won’t necessarily delay it because our Parliamentarians have a real say – especially backed by our Prime Minister. I therefore remain optimistic that todays debate on the back of the announcement signals change.
In my opinion todays announcement, rather than a stalling tactic, should be taken as a signal that far from kicking things into the long grass this government really does want to work on getting this right. It can be assurred that my brilliant team at WhistleblowersUK under the leadership of @Iain Mitchel KC and @Edward Romain our new legal panel chair, @Dawn Davidsen and @Dr Peter Duffy and @Dr Peter Harvey are already looking forward to the opportunity to represent their teams.
In the meantime we look forward to hearing Whistleblowing Champion Baroness Susan Kramer lead support for our proposals, along side her colleagues across all political parties, this afternoon. We will post a report following the debate.
There can never be too many thank you’s and I want to again say how very grateful I am on behalf of our directors for the support and assistance from our associate members, volunteers, lawyers, NGO’s, regulators, civil servants and the public with whom we have continuing dialogue to ensure that whistleblowing gets the recognition it deserves.
Here is the link to this afternoons debate which will be available live on Parliamentary TV: https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/parliament-government-and-politics/parliament/lords-news/
We encourage everyone to use this opportunity to provide feedback to the Government, and I mean everyone because whether you are an employer or whistleblower you need to add your voice.
Photo July 2025 – Ian Byrne MP taking centre stage in support of Office of the Whistleblower
WhistleblowersUK Proposals for an Office of the Whistleblower Debated in the House of Lords