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| Companies quit the CBI after second rape claim | Companies quit the CBI after second rape claim |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A number of firms have left the CBI after a second allegation of rape at the business lobby group emerged. | |
| The Guardian reported that a woman who was working at one of the CBI's overseas offices was sexually assaulted by two male colleagues. | |
| The CBI said these latest allegations were "abhorrent" and that it had previously been unaware of the claims. | |
| Insurers Aviva, Zurich and Phoenix Group said they had ended their membership of the lobbying giant. | |
| Meanwhile, supermarket Asda and banking group Natwest said they had paused their engagement with the CBI while investigations were ongoing. | |
| The CBI, which claims to speak for 190,000 businesses, has been engulfed in scandal following a previous allegation of rape as well as claims of sexual harassment. | The CBI, which claims to speak for 190,000 businesses, has been engulfed in scandal following a previous allegation of rape as well as claims of sexual harassment. |
| Working with police | Working with police |
| "Our hearts go out to any women who have been victims of the behaviour described," Brian McBride, president of the CBI, said in a statement on Friday. | "Our hearts go out to any women who have been victims of the behaviour described," Brian McBride, president of the CBI, said in a statement 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." | "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." |
| Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Waight from the City of London Police said: "Further to our investigations regarding sexual misconduct at the CBI we were passed a further serious allegation on Wednesday 19 April." | |
| He said that no arrests had been made and its investigations were continuing, and asked anyone with any information to get in touch. | |
| The City of London Police was already investigating an alleged rape at a CBI summer party in 2019. This, and other claims of misconduct, emerged earlier this month. | |
| The group has suspended three employees pending the outcome of an investigation by law firm Fox Williams. | The group has suspended three employees pending the outcome of an investigation by law firm Fox Williams. |
| The CBI has received the report from Fox Williams and will respond to it early next week. | The CBI has received the report from Fox Williams and will respond to it early next week. |
| The government had already announced that it was "pausing" its engagement with the CBI. | The government had already announced that it was "pausing" its engagement with the CBI. |
| Aviva said: "In light of the very serious allegations made, and the CBI's handling of the process and response, we believe the CBI is no longer able to fulfil its core function - to be a representative voice of business in the UK. | Aviva said: "In light of the very serious allegations made, and the CBI's handling of the process and response, we believe the CBI is no longer able to fulfil its core function - to be a representative voice of business in the UK. |
| "We have therefore regrettably terminated our membership with immediate effect." | "We have therefore regrettably terminated our membership with immediate effect." |
| Zurich Insurance said: "We are deeply concerned about the allegations made about the CBI and have decided to terminate our membership with immediate effect." | |
| And Phoenix Group said that "further to the allegations reported this morning" it had resigned its membership of the CBI with immediate effect. | |
| Last week the British Insurance Brokers' Association said it had withdrawn its membership "in light of recent reports". | Last week the British Insurance Brokers' Association said it had withdrawn its membership "in light of recent reports". |
| Stalking allegation | Stalking allegation |
| The Guardian also reported that a woman at the CBI's London office had been stalked by a male colleague in 2018. | The Guardian also reported that a woman at the CBI's London office had been stalked by a male colleague in 2018. |
| She complained to the CBI and a finding of harassment was upheld. | She complained to the CBI and a finding of harassment was upheld. |
| However, the newspaper reports that the man continued to work at the organisation and eventually left for unrelated reasons. | However, the newspaper reports that the man continued to work at the organisation and eventually left for unrelated reasons. |
| In response, the CBI said: "We recognise the substance of the harassment report outlined as relating to an allegation made and investigated in January 2018. | In response, the CBI said: "We recognise the substance of the harassment report outlined as relating to an allegation made and investigated in January 2018. |
| "The finding of harassment was upheld and a sanction was imposed." | "The finding of harassment was upheld and a sanction was imposed." |
| Dame Carolyn Fairbairn was the director-general of the CBI between 2015 and 2020. The BBC has contacted her for comment. | Dame Carolyn Fairbairn was the director-general of the CBI between 2015 and 2020. The BBC has contacted her for comment. |
| "The board will communicate its response to this and the other steps we are taking to bring about the wider change that is needed early next week," he said. | "The board will communicate its response to this and the other steps we are taking to bring about the wider change that is needed early next week," he said. |
| Separately, the CBI fired director-general Tony Danker last week following claims of workplace misconduct against him which were investigated by Fox Williams. | Separately, the CBI fired director-general Tony Danker last week following claims of workplace misconduct against him which were investigated by Fox Williams. |
| Mr Danker took over from Dame Carolyn in late 2020. | Mr Danker took over from Dame Carolyn in late 2020. |
| In an interview with the BBC earlier this week, Mr Danker admitted that he had made some staff feel "very uncomfortable", adding, "I apologise for that." | In an interview with the BBC earlier this week, Mr Danker admitted that he had made some staff feel "very uncomfortable", adding, "I apologise for that." |
| But he said his name had become associated with claims of serious sexual assault that occurred before he joined the CBI. He is now considering legal action against the organisation. | But he said his name had become associated with claims of serious sexual assault that occurred before he joined the CBI. He is now considering legal action against the organisation. |
| Mr McBride said that Mr Danker had been sacked on strong legal grounds. | Mr McBride said that Mr Danker had been sacked on strong legal grounds. |
| The CBI has appointed Rain Newton-Smith - its former chief economist - as its new director-general. Ms Newton-Smith had been at the CBI for nearly nine years before leaving last month to join Barclays but is now returning to the business lobby group, and is expected to take the helm "within days". | The CBI has appointed Rain Newton-Smith - its former chief economist - as its new director-general. Ms Newton-Smith had been at the CBI for nearly nine years before leaving last month to join Barclays but is now returning to the business lobby group, and is expected to take the helm "within days". |
| Mr McBride said: "We are rightly undertaking an urgent root and branch review of our culture to right the wrongs where we can and to reform our workplace for everyone." | Mr McBride said: "We are rightly undertaking an urgent root and branch review of our culture to right the wrongs where we can and to reform our workplace for everyone." |
| However, some have questioned whether someone who has worked at the CBI is the right person to lead an overhaul of the organisation and its culture. | However, some have questioned whether someone who has worked at the CBI is the right person to lead an overhaul of the organisation and its culture. |
| Commenting on Thursday on Ms Newton-Smith's appointment, Ann Francke, the chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said: "I'm not sure there was a huge amount of openness and transparency around the process and obviously you can question whether somebody who was there is the right change agent to change the culture." | Commenting on Thursday on Ms Newton-Smith's appointment, Ann Francke, the chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said: "I'm not sure there was a huge amount of openness and transparency around the process and obviously you can question whether somebody who was there is the right change agent to change the culture." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| CBI | CBI |