Office of the Whistleblower Bill: Second Reading

This Private Members' Bill proposes to establish an Office of the Whistleblower — an independent body designed to protect and support workers who report wrongdoing in their organisations. The bill aims to create a statutory framework for whistleblower protection, potentially including investigation powers, legal support, and safeguards against retaliation. Gareth Snell, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, is sponsoring the measure.

Whistleblower protection affects workplace culture across all sectors and employment types. Stronger statutory protections could encourage reporting of fraud, safety breaches, and misconduct while reducing barriers faced by workers who fear retaliation — a concern that particularly affects lower-paid and precarious workers. This would reshape employer-employee accountability and the mechanisms available to workers raising concerns about illegal or unethical conduct.