Sir Jeremy Heywood , nicknamed 'Sir Cover-Up ' has overseen a move that will ban civil servants from speaking to journalists without prior approval . A ban on civil servants talking to journalists without prior ministerial approval will ‘ intimidate ’ them into silence , critics said last night . The Civil Service Code has been revised , with the threat that officials could be sacked if they speak out before checking with a minister . A line has been added to the code , saying : ‘ Ensure you have ministerial authorisation for any contact with the media. ’ As well as raising concerns about the transparency of government , there are fears the revision could dissuade whistleblowers from coming forward – meaning scandals could go undetected . The move , which follows a similar clampdown on members of the armed forces talking to the media , has been overseen by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood , the Head of the Home Civil Service . He 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 . His influence is such that David Cameron is said to have once joked : ‘ Remind me , Jeremy , do you work for me or do I work for you ? ’ A source at the Cabinet Office – which is in charge of the Civil Service – insisted the move was an attempt to increase ministers ’ accountability of civil servants in their department . Francis Maude , Cabinet Office minister , promised to ensure that the right of whistleblowers would be maintained . But Dave Penman of the FDA union , which represents Whitehall officials , said the move was an ‘ unnecessary , unworkable and unjustified restriction ’ . ‘ The public has a right to open and transparent public services , yet this change now requires ministerial authorisation before a civil servant can respond or make any contact with the media – from a prosecutor being asked for comment outside of court , to a job centre manager dealing with a local news story , ’ he added . ‘ Guidance to regulate contact between civil servants and the media is already in place and we can see no justification for this sudden , drastic change , other than intimidating civil servants into silence … this knee-jerk decision seems to have only been made to sate unfounded and misguided ministerial mistrust. ’ Mark Serwotka , of the Public and Commercial Services Union , said the ban was an attempt to ‘ prevent public servants from telling the truth about government policy , by a minister who has already admitted he wants to do as much damage as possible before he steps down by making his reforms “ irreversible ” ’ . Francis Maude , Cabinet Office minister , promised that the right of whistleblowers would be maintained . The extension to the Civil Service Code means the Government has effectively ordered more than 400,000 people not to talk to reporters without its approval . A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said the rule ‘ clarifies ’ an existing requirement that civil servants must ‘ clear material for publication in advance ’ . He added : ‘ There is no change to the important rights of individuals under whistleblowing legislation which is protected by statute. ’ In a letter to the FDA union , Mr Maude said he proposes to include ‘ a footnote referencing the whistleblowing legislation within the revised Code ’ .
Ban prevents civil servants from talking to journalists without approval . Comment: He 's nicknamed 'Sir Cover-Up ' for preventing Chilcot inquiry into Iraq War .