Carillion staff and investors could see the problems at the company but those responsible – auditors, regulators, and, ultimately, the directors – did nothing to stop Carillion being driven off a cliff.Carillion directors' testimony was further questioned when, on 21 February 2018, a whistle-blowing former Carillion executive told "The Guardian" the company had been in serious financial difficulty in mid-2016 but directors had been "placating the City."