Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tomorrow 24th January 2024, Mary Robinson MP for Cheadle and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Whistleblowing will re-present The Whistleblowing Bill to the House of Commons as a Private Members Bill.

This Bill was drafted by WhistleblowersUK

"A Bill to establish an independent Office of the Whistleblower to protect whistleblowers and whistleblowing in accordance with the public interest; to make provision for the Office of the Whistleblower to set, monitor and enforce standards for the management of whistleblowing cases, to provide disclosure and advice services, to direct whistleblowing investigations and to order redress of detriment suffered by whistleblowers; to create offences relating to the treatment of whistleblowers and the handling of whistleblowing cases; to repeal the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998; and for connected purposes."

This will be the 2nd time that this Bill has been presented in the Commons and comes following our meeting with No10 last week and in the wake of the inquiry into the Post Office Horizon Inquiry, Rochdale and the failure of Greater Manchester Police and the ongoing maternity scandals. In each of these cases whistleblowers spoke out to raise concerns and in every case they were silenced. Each of the organisations is guilty of denying the allegations, closing ranks against the whistleblowers and of using lawyers to close down cases using NDA's.

The Whistleblowing Bill will transform whistleblowing in the UK making it an offence to retaliate against a whistleblower, fail to act, or to cover up wrongdoing. The Whistleblowing Bill will introduce an Office of the Whistleblower with statutory powers to issue and enforce fines and penalties against the organisations and individuals responsible.

Mary Robinson MP, chair of the APPG said;

“We need look no further than the Post Office Horizon scandal to see how badly whistleblowers are treated and how much public money is wasted persecuting them. The Whistleblowing Bill will give every citizen protection against retaliation and a means of sharing their concerns in the knowledge that action will be taken and those responsible for wrongdoing will be held to account.”

For more information about the APPG for Whistleblowing https://www.appgwhistleblowing.co.uk/ For further information please call Georgina Halford-Hall on 07860963947 (whatsapp) or email: [email protected]

Stephen Kerr MSP vice chair WhistleblowersUK

“The Government have listened to the evidence for an overhaul of the law over a number of years. It again has the opportunity to ‘do the right thing’ and adopt this bill. It is time to protect the brave whistleblowers who have the courage to speak up to protect others.”

About WhistleblowersUK

WhistleblowersUK is the UK’s only not for profit whistleblowing organisation. We have provided help and support to whistleblowers and organisations for 10 years. We lead the campaign for root and branch reform of UK whistleblowing laws through our role as secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Whistleblowing. Our proposals call for the introduction of an Office of the Whistleblower. We receive no government funding and rely on the generosity of the public to support whistleblowers.

If you are interested in our work, getting involved or need help see our website https://www.wbuk.org/ the ‘HelpMe’ button will take you to our confidential and secure reporting platform,

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