After weeks of bullying allegations against current and ex-ministers, whistleblowing reforms can help restore integrity and accountability in government
From the outside looking in, it seems to have been a bad week for civil servants working in Westminster and Whitehall. We have had weeks now of allegations of bullying against current and former ministers towards both MPs and civil servants. It is not clear what the prime minister knew or did not know about both sets of allegations, though the government has moved to investigate both complaints that have been made, and to support other civil servants who feel ‘traumatised’ by the alleged behaviour.
It is worth reflecting on the place civil service whistleblowers have within the prime minister’s stated aim of "integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level".
A wise prime minister would conclude that, to achieve this aim, they would need to ensure that civil servants were confident to raise concerns where they witness wrongdoing, malpractice or unethical behaviour. Whistleblowing is key to detecting wrongdoing such as fraud and corruption: studies have shown 42% of all fraud is detected via tips, of which 55% are known to have come from employees.
It is unlawful for an employer to victimise a whistleblower for blowing the whistle on wrongdoing or malpractice that was raised in the public interest. It is in everyone’s interest to ensure when a civil servant speaks out, they will be listened to, and the response...
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