Protect’s Joint Chief Executive, Elizabeth Gardiner, welcomed the announcement that the Government will hold a consultation on the whistleblowing law:
“After many years of Protect campaigning for the UK’s whistleblowing law to be updated, this announcement is great news. We know from talking with whistleblowers every day how hard it is for individuals to exercise their rights when they’ve been treated badly or sacked for raising really important issues in the public interest. Over 70% of those who contact our Advice Line say they’ve been victimised, while around 40% say their concerns are simply ignored: figures which are stubbornly unchanged year on year. It is no wonder that whistleblowers fear for their careers if they speak up or think that it is futile to blow the whistle.
“The UK, which once led the way in whistleblowing protections, has now fallen behind many other countries and we hope the Government will take this opportunity to strengthen whistleblowing rights and ensure greater accountability in our workplaces”.
The Government’s announcement on the consultation has come about after Protect’s campaign for better whistleblowing protection – an amendment was passed in the House of Lords during the Employment Rights Bill which saw hundreds of Peers across multiple political parties support better whistleblowing protection. However, the amendment was later rejected by the House of Commons.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For more information, please contact:
press@protect-advice.org.uk
07399 128124