An Office of the Whistleblower is needed to ensure people who speak up are protected (31 July 2020)

Summary

Findings from the APPG for Whisltblowing's report show that whistleblowing cases continue to have a low success rate, with whistleblowers suffering more and for longer than before, writes Mary Robinson. 

Whilst there are laws in place to protect whistleblowers, the overwhelming evidence is that they have failed to address the principal issues they face. Politicians have a duty to confront the most difficult things, including the barriers to justice and the fear of retaliation that make it impossible or futile for people across all sectors to speak up safely.

Mary, the Conservative MP for Cheadle and chair of the APPG for whistleblowing, says that a system that works with whistleblowers instead of against them, would serve to protect employees and would empower them to do the right thing. Although the UK was the first in Europe to introduce legislation with Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, we are in danger of falling behind global best practice.

In this blog, Mary proposes and urgent reform of existing legislation and the introduction of an Office of the Whistleblower is needed to reset the gold standard.