️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️  <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> Ministers were last night struggling to contain a spiraling row about highly contentious plans to bar 430,000 civil servants from talking to journalists.<unk> Ministers were last night struggling to contain a spiraling row about highly contentious plans to bar 430,000 civil servants from talking to journalists. Critics raised concerns about a quiet change to the civil service code, which they warned could <unk>stifle whistleblowing<unk> and open government.<unk>Critics raised concerns about a quiet change to the civil service code, which they warned could <unk>stifle whistleblowing<unk> and open government. The code has been amended to include a new provision making clear that officials could be sacked if they speak out before checking with a minister.<unk> The code has been amended to include a new provision making clear that officials could be sacked if they speak out before checking with a minister. Downing Street is understood to have intervened in the row, forcing the Cabinet Office to offer a series of concessions.<unk> Downing Street is understood to have intervened in the row, forcing the Cabinet Office to offer a series of concessions. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• However, that is unlikely to appease critics, who have asked why such a change has been enforced just before the general election campaign.<unk> However, that is unlikely to appease critics, who have asked why such a change has been enforced just before the general election campaign. It seems to have been agreed by Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, who has been nicknamed Sir Cover-Up for preventing the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War from seeing letters and records of phone calls between Tony Blair and George Bush. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Margaret Hodge, who chairs the Commons public accounts committee, said the Cabinet Office was <unk>using a sledgehammer to crack a nut<unk>. You don't want to encourage briefing against ministers, or criticizing people behind their... <unk>You don't want to encourage briefing against ministers, or criticizing people behind their... <unk>You don't want to encourage briefing against ministers, or criticizing people behind their...
️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> Officials could be sacked if they speak out before checking with a minister.<unk> Officials could be sacked if they speak out before checking with a minister. The Cabinet Office insists that the amendment <unk> clarifies current practice.<unk> The Cabinet Office insists that the amendment <unk> clarifies current practice.