Sacked GCHQ employee launches legal claim under whistleblowing defence

A GCHQ employee who was sacked after calling publicly for the resignation of the UKs most senior civil servant during the final weeks of Boris Johnsons government is launching a legal claim under whistleblowing legislation.

The former mandarin of 17 years, known as Stuart, was forced out of his job at the spy centre after using a radio interview with James OBrien to demand that the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, step down.

Solicitors have launched a case on Stuarts behalf claiming he had spoken out to end corruption in government an act that is protected by whistleblowing laws.

Stuart, 40, was working in an intelligence and security role at the time of his dismissal in September but claims he revealed no state secrets in his interview.

If successful, the case could set a precedent because GCHQ employees and those who work for the security services are at present prevented from bringing a protected disclosure against the government.

Mike Cain, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day, which is taking on the case, said his client was not trying to overturn laws that made the use of security and intelligence information unlawful.