Whistleblowers should be protected not threatened, says TUC

26 March 2015

Commenting on today’s (Thursday) revelations that security services have been keeping files on MPs, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Whistleblowing is an important part of holding those in power accountable.

“Today's revelation of files kept on MPs, on top of the cover up of child sex abuse, suggest that we should be doing more to protect whistleblowers, not threatening them as Francis Maude has done with his insistence that no civil servant can speak to the media without ministerial permission.

“Civil servants are already, and rightly, covered by a strong code of conduct for their relations with the media that works well.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Clare Santry  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: csantry@tuc.org.uk

Alex Rossiter  T: 020 7467 1285  M: 07887 572130  E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols  T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07876 452902  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Kay Atwal  T: 020 7467 1385  M: 07941 547469  E: katwal@tuc.org.uk