The plans were agreed by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood ( pictured ) who was nicknamed Sir Cover-Up for preventing the Chilcot inquiry . Ministers were last night struggling to contain a spiralling 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 ‘ stifle whistleblowing ’ 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 . Downing Street was understood to have intervened in the row , forcing the Cabinet Office to offer a series of concessions . Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude agreed to redraft guidance to ‘ strengthen protection ’ for those speaking out to blow the whistle on scandals or abuses of public money , and include a commitment to being ‘ as open as possible ’ with Parliament and the public . However , that is unlikely to appease critics , who have asked why such a change has been enforced just before the general election campaign . It appears 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 . However , the impetus is understood to have come from ministers , who wanted to control the flow of information from departments to make clear that they , not civil servants , are ultimately in charge . A line has been added to the civil service code , which governs officials ’ conduct , saying : ‘ Ensure you have ministerial authorisation for any contact with the media. ’ Margaret Hodge , who chairs the Commons public accounts committee , said the Cabinet Office was ‘ using a sledgehammer to crack a nut ’ . Margaret Hodge ( pictured ) said the Cabinet Office was ‘ using a sledgehammer to crack a nut ’ ‘ You don ’ t want to encourage briefing against ministers , or criticising people behind their backs , ’ she said . ‘ But the more openness , the more understanding people have of the way government works , the better. ’ Tory MP Charlotte Leslie , who has championed more openness in the health service , said it could stifle whistleblowing . ‘ It makes sense that the Government wants to get its work done without a running commentary from inside the system , but I would like them to set out what they have in place to help people whistleblowing , ’ she said . Ministers point that out civil servants can blow the whistle on a major scandal using legal protections afforded to them in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1988 . But Dave Penman , general secretary of the FDA union that represents civil servants , said it was absurd to enforce a ‘ blanket ban ’ on all 430,000 civil servants having unauthorised contacts with journalists . Mr Penman : ‘ Civil servants will become worried about every contact they have with the media , and will be looking over their shoulder all the time when talking to the public – as that ’ s who they are talking to through the media – about the service they deliver. ’ The Cabinet Office insist that the amendment will not affect contacts between journalists and press officers or advisers who regularly speak to the media . They insist it simply ‘ clarifies ’ current practice . Mr Maude last night : ‘ The Cabinet Secretary and I are both clear that no one should be exposed to personal and professional risk for doing what is in the public interest . ‘ The amendments make no change to the rights of individuals under whistleblowing legislation or our drive to increase Government transparency and openness . 'However , we will consult on strengthening the protections for whistleblowers . ’
Critics say change to the civil service code could 'stifle whistleblowing ' Ministers are currently struggling to contain row over contentious plans . Plans would bar 430,000 civil servants from talking to journalists . Officials could be sacked if they speak out before checking with a minister . The Cabinet Office insist that the amendment ‘ clarifies ’ current practice .