SHINING A LIGHT

UK Whistleblowing Law in International Context: The Case for Reform

An advocacy and policy briefing paper in support of the Consultation for the Review of the UK Whistleblowing Framework as submitted to the Department of Business and Trade. Prepared by Parrhesia under the guidance of Dr Ian Foxley, June 2026.

Executive Summary

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) was, in its time, a pioneering piece of legislation. Nearly three decades on, it looks dated against the standards now being set across Europe, the Commonwealth, and beyond. PIDA protects only against unfair dismissal and detriment, leaves enforcement entirely to an individual’s willingness and ability to bring an employment tribunal claim, imposes no positive duty on employers to operate a reporting system, and applies a narrow test of who counts as a protected “worker”. A 2024 survey of 2,000 UK workers found that 51% would not feel safe reporting illegal activity at work, citing fear of dismissal as the principal deterrent (Morton Fraser MacRoberts, 2025).

To read the full article download the PDF below: