The Guardian

UK whistleblower ‘morally compelled’ to speak out on Afghan withdrawal

A Foreign Office civil servant, Josie Stewart, was dismissed after speaking out about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Stewart claims she felt "morally compelled" to whistleblow on the government's handling of the crisis, which she described as mismanaged and causing avoidable suffering. Her tribunal began with claims of unfair dismissal under the Employment Rights Act 1996. Stewart leaked emails indicating Prime Minister Boris Johnson's involvement in prioritizing the evacuation of an animal charity, despite his denials. She faced suspension and eventual dismissal after a BBC reporter inadvertently revealed her identity. The tribunal will assess the rights of civil servants to disclose public interest information to the press. Stewart's legal team argues she acted in the public interest and should be protected by whistleblowing laws. The Foreign Office defends its actions and praises its staff for their efforts in the Afghanistan evacuation. The tribunal is set to continue until May 20th.