While it was always unlikely that Barclays shareholders would vote to remove the CEO given that they will primarily concern themselves with the value of the business, this whole affair reflects badly on the adequacy of supposedly enhanced regimes put in place to protect whistleblowers.

It will now be interesting to see how the Financial Conduct Authority responds following the conclusion of the whistleblowing investigations at Barclays. In the event that the FCA takes no action, though, potential whistleblowers may not be emboldened to act, and the corporate governance and integrity of British business will be the poorer as a result.

Richard Nicolle, Employment law partner, Stewarts Law, London

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