Press statement: Josie Stewart, former FCDO whistleblower wins at Tribunal

“We warmly welcome the Tribunal’s decision in Josie Stewart’s case which has far reaching implications for the civil service.

Josie Stewart was a civil servant in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) who blew the whistle to the BBC about the serious risk to lives due to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Tribunal has held that in the circumstances it was reasonable for her to go to the BBC. The Tribunal found that the subsequent withdrawal of Josie’s security clearance was unlawful and that she was unfairly dismissed as her employer failed to recognise her as a whistleblower.

We need whistleblowers to raise matters in the public interest and this case is unusual and hugely significant in finding that a civil servant was justified in going to the press. Whistleblowers are essential to good government and challenge is vital in holding organisations to account. This decision has weighty repercussions for how civil servants can act in the future and their confidence in speaking out when they encounter wrongdoing.

However, we still need to close the gap between the value whistleblowing brings in exposing wrongdoing, and the lack of protections for those civil servants who speak up. If, like in this case, the department is not listening, civil servants have no option but to go to the press. The only way we can ensure civil servants can raise concerns safely is by introducing an independent statutory commissioner with broad powers to investigate whistleblowing in the civil service.”