Two prominent UK whistleblowers, Ian Foxley and Peter Gardiner, have teamed up to create a support group for other truth-tellers, the UK newspaper The Telegraph reported today. The group will provide psychological and practical support for people suffering from reprisals after reporting wrongdoing. The new organization, Whistleblowers UK, will be chaired by Mr. Foxley.
Both men have been at the centre of high profile scandals. Foxley, a retired lieutenant colonel, was put in charge of overseeing a huge military communications project in Saudi for the UK firm GPT (a subsidiary of EADS) in 2010. Seven months later he fled the country, claiming that GPT was paying bribes to Saudis: the Serious Fraud Office subsequently mounted an investigation.
Mr Gardiner blew the whistle on BAE's practice of paying a variety of personal expenses for high ranking Saudi dignitaries. The formation of the new group was welcomed by Andew Tyrie MP, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, who has stated that the FSA may need to re-examine its treatment of whistleblowers. Mr. Tyrie authored a recent report into the Barclays Libor scandal.