Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hamas: Facts on ground reveal opposite of claims, as occupation authorities were ones who armed criminal gangs that practiced murder and kidnapping against people of Gaza.
Hamas: US Department of State's false claims fully in line with Israeli disinformation.
Hamas responds to US claims in statement, fully rejects US claims of "imminent attack" or violation of ceasefire.
Field sources in West Bank: Israeli bulldozers vandalize Palestinian lands northwest of Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Settlers attack Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in Nablus.
Field sources in West Bank: Armed Israeli settlers torch Palestinian vehicles near olive groves in Turmus Ayya north of Ramallah.
Israeli PM Office: Netanyahu has ordered that the Rafah crossing will not open until further notice.
Ambrey: Cameroon-flagged tanker issues distress call following explosion abroad, approximately 60NM south of Yemen's Ahwar.
Araghchi: Iran adopted a constructive approach in its engagement to ensure the European Union and the E3 fully honored their commitments and lifted all sanctions.
Araghchi: After a year of Iran’s full compliance with the agreement, it began implementing gradual, proportionate, and reversible compensatory steps in accordance with its recognized rights under the deal.

Sacked UK Foreign Office whistleblower furious over hearing secrecy

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Apr 2023 13:58
3 Min Read

The UK government insists on keeping the full hearing private and away from public eyes.

  • x
  • UK military personnel are seen onboard an A400M aircraft departing Kabul, Afghanistan August 28, 2021. (Reuters)
    UK military personnel seen onboard an A400M aircraft departing Kabul, Afghanistan, August 28, 2021 (Reuters)

Josie Stewart, the senior official who was fired from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) for being the whistleblower that outlined the UK's failure in handling Afghanistan's withdrawal, appealed her dismissal decision, but the government insists on the privacy of the trial.

In May 2022, Stewart gave the BBC an anonymous interview where she revealed "systemic failures of leadership, planning, and preparation." This resulted in her dismissal.

According to The Guardian, Stewart decided to consider "her treatment to employment tribunal to test legal protections for whistleblowers amid concerns there is insufficient protection for civil servants who disclose sensitive information in the public interest."

Stewart also expressed her frustration regarding the UK government's attempt to "ensure" the legal proceedings remain private citing national security grounds under rule 94 of the employment tribunal rules.

While Stewart's hearing is set for September 2023, the senior official and her designated lawyers attended a preliminary hearing before Judge Andrew Glennie. 

The preliminary hearing, which was held in private, was meant to make a decision on whether the complete hearing would be held publicly or in private.

Significantly, The Guardian revealed that its reporter was banned from entry to the preliminary hearing. This information was later corroborated by Stewart herself who said, "A Guardian reporter whom I met at reception … who had turned up to cover the hearing, was turned away.”

Related News

Afghanistan-Pakistan negotiations to begin in Doha: Exclusive

6 soldiers, 6 militants killed in suicide bombing in Pakistan

The senior official updated her supporters via the CrowdJustice website, saying the proceedings were partly "infuriating" given that she could not disclose any information, even regarding the preliminary hearing. 

Steward also said, "What I can say is that we will receive the judge’s decision and reasons on 18 May," adding that today was "intense, emotional, infuriating and motivating. And that my legal team are truly incredible: it was a privilege to witness them at work.”

Stewart outlines 'systemic failures' of Afghan withdrawal

The interview the senior official conducted for BBC, on condition of anonymity, detailed how "the manner of our withdrawal from Afghanistan was a disaster and a betrayal of our allies that will damage the UK's interests for years to come."

"Most damning for the Foreign Office is the total absence of a plan for evacuating Afghans who supported the UK mission, without being directly employed by the UK government, despite knowing 18 months before the collapse of Afghanistan that an evacuation might be necessary," she said.

The Foreign Office "provided answers that were intentionally evasive and often deliberately misleading" in response to inquiries from the Committee, which began work on the report in September. Instead, two whistleblowers spoke before the committee.

The report added that "those who lead the Foreign Office should be ashamed that civil servants of great integrity felt compelled to risk their careers to bring the situation to light."

The study emphasized the government's absence of a chain of command and "untraceable and unaccountable political interventions."

Read more: UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigns

  • Afghanistan
  • FCDO
  • Josie Stewart
  • UK
  • UK in Afghanistan

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Iraqi religious leader Sheikh Jawad al-Khalisi on Al Mayadeen Plus, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Most powerful decision-maker in Iraq is US: Sheikh Al-Khalisi

Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Politics

Iran, Russia, China confirm: Iran nuclear issue out of UNSC

Member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc Ali Fayyad speaks to Al Mayadeen, October 18, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Hezbollah, allies will reject direct talks with 'Israel': MP Fayyad

The bodies of killed Palestinians held by "Israel" during the war are downloaded from Red Cross vehicles after their release, at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP)
Politics

From rubble to graveyards, Gaza continues recovering its martyrs

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS