Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Major firms quit CBI after newly reported rape claim

Major firms quit CBI after newly reported rape claim
Delegates attend the CBI Annual Conference at The Vox Conference Centre on November 21, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Major British firms on Friday announced their withdrawal from the Confederation of British Industry, after fresh rape allegations at the country's biggest business lobby group.

The move follows fresh revelations reported in The Guardian newspaper on Friday of a second claim of rape said to have involved staff members.


Police are already investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and an earlier rape reported by the newspaper that is alleged to have taken place in 2019.

The CBI described the latest allegation as "abhorrent" and said it had "taken the difficult but necessary decision" to suspend all policy and membership activity until an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in June.

"At the EGM we will put forward proposals for a refocused CBI to our membership for them to decide on the future role and purpose of the organisation," it said.

Unilever, NatWest, the John Lewis Partnership, BMW Group, BT Group, EY and Virgin Media O2 all cancelled their involvement with the group.

Others including Aviva, Mastercard, Phoenix, Zurich UK and Vitality have also cut ties, plunging the future of the CBI into doubt.

Asda, PwC, Diageo, GSK, Lloyds Banking Group, National Grid, Shell and others have suspended their activity or are reviewing their membership.

The UK government said earlier this month it would pause all engagement with the lobbying group after the initial reports about misconduct.

On Friday, The Guardian reported that another "woman has alleged that she was raped by two male colleagues when she worked at the Confederation of British Industry". No date was given.

A separate incident, said to have occurred in 2018, alleged that a woman based at the organisation's London office was stalked by a male colleague.

The probe has led to the firing of director general Tony Danker and the suspension of three employees.

While Danker was not the subject of the allegations, the CBI said "his own conduct fell short of that expected".

The reason for the suspension of three other employees has not been given.

"The latest allegations put to us by The Guardian are abhorrent and our hearts go out to any women who have been victims of the behaviour described," CBI president Brian McBride said on Friday.

"While the CBI was not previously aware of the most serious allegations, it is vital that they are thoroughly investigated now and we are liaising closely with the police to help ensure any perpetrators are brought to justice."

The CBI represents about 190,000 businesses, which together employ almost seven million people, and counts blue chip UK firms among its members.

Following Danker's sacking, the CBI appointed Rain Newton-Smith, former chief economist at the group, as its new head just one month after she began a role at Barclays bank.

Danker became CBI head in late 2020, helping to steer businesses of various sizes and across different sectors through Covid lockdowns.

His predecessor was Carolyn Fairbairn, currently an independent non-executive director at HSBC bank.

More for you

A woman walks past a window display promoting an ongoing sale

A woman walks past a window display promoting an ongoing sale, on December 13, 2024 in London, England.

Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images

Retail sales disappoint before Christmas

UK retail sales rose less than expected in the runup to Christmas, according to official data Friday that deals a fresh blow to government hopes of growing the economy.

Separate figures revealed a temporary reprieve for prime minister Keir Starmer, however, as public borrowing fell sharply in November.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sybren Attema, and Betty Eekchaut

Presidents Sybren Attema, FrieslandCampina, and Betty Eekchaut, Milcobel

Yazoo parent FrieslandCampina announces merger with Belgian rival Milcobel

Dutch dairy collective FrieslandCampina has agreed to merge with smaller Belgian rival Milcobel, creating a leading dairy cooperative.

FrieslandCampina, whose brands include Yazoo and Chocomel, said the merger will provide the foundation for a future-oriented organisation that has dairy front and centre for member dairy farmers, employees, consumers, and customers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Retail Shoplifting. Man Stealing In Supermarket
Photo: iStock

Home Office reaffirms commitment to abolish £200 shoplifting threshold

The UK government has pledged stronger measures to combat anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which it acknowledges as serious crimes that disrupt communities and harm businesses.

Addressing a House of Lords debate on Monday, Home Office minister Lord Hanson detailed plans to abolish the controversial £200 shoplifting threshold and to introduce a new offence for assaults on retail workers.

Keep ReadingShow less
post office store
Photo: Post Office Ltd

Post Office launches wellbeing hub to support postmasters amid rising retail crime

In response to the mounting pressures faced by postmasters across the UK, the Post Office has unveiled a centralised wellbeing platform aimed at simplifying access to support resources.

Post Office said the surge in shoplifting and violent incidents, documented in the 2024 ACS Crime Report, has only intensified the demand for comprehensive support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent retailers face mixed outlook for 2025 – Bira
iStock

Independent retailers face mixed outlook for 2025 – Bira

Independent retailers have weathered one of their most challenging years in 2024, with multiple headwinds affecting the sector, according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).

With pressures mounting throughout the year, independent retailers have faced an increasingly difficult trading environment marked by changing consumer behaviour and economic uncertainties.

Keep ReadingShow less