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Aviva ends CBI membership ‘in light of very serious allegations’ Aviva ends CBI membership ‘in light of very serious allegations’
(39 minutes later)
Insurance company is one of first big UK organisations to cut ties with scandal-hit lobby groupInsurance company is one of first big UK organisations to cut ties with scandal-hit lobby group
Insurance firms Aviva and Phoenix Group have severed ties with the Confederation of British Industry, terminating their membership hours after additional allegations of rape and sexual harassment were made against Britain’s leading business lobby group. The insurance firms Aviva and Phoenix Group have severed ties with the Confederation of British Industry, terminating their membership hours after additional allegations of rape and sexual harassment were made against staff at Britain’s leading business lobby group.
Aviva, which is led by chief executive Amanda Blanc, notified the CBI – which claims to represent 190,000 businesses – of its decision on Friday morning. It said the lobby group was no longer in a position to speak for the British business community. Fellow FTSE 100 insurer Phoenix also said it was quitting with immediate effect. Aviva, whose chief executive is Amanda Blanc, notified the CBI – which claims to represent 190,000 businesses – of its decision on Friday morning. It said the lobby group was no longer in a position to speak for the British business community. Fellow FTSE 100 insurer Phoenix also said it was quitting with immediate effect.
A spokesperson for 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.”A spokesperson for 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.”
Aviva’s decision is understood to have been made before the most recent allegations were published on Friday.
A spokesperson for Phoenix Group said: “Further to the additional allegations reported this morning, we have taken the decision to resign our membership of the CBI with immediate effect.”A spokesperson for Phoenix Group said: “Further to the additional allegations reported this morning, we have taken the decision to resign our membership of the CBI with immediate effect.”
They are among of the first big UK organisations to end their relationship with the scandal-hit group, which hired the law firm Fox Williams to independently investigate a string of allegations reported to the Guardian by more than a dozen former staff.They are among of the first big UK organisations to end their relationship with the scandal-hit group, which hired the law firm Fox Williams to independently investigate a string of allegations reported to the Guardian by more than a dozen former staff.
Their resignations came only hours after the Guardian reported allegations by a woman who says she was raped by two male colleagues when she worked at the CBI. Sources also said that another woman based at the organisation’s London office was stalked by a male colleague in 2018. Sources said he followed her in person and tracked her online, and that when she complained the CBI launched an investigation. Their departure came only hours after the Guardian reported allegations by a woman who says she was raped by two male colleagues when she was working at an overseas office of the CBI. Sources also said another woman based at the organisation’s London office was stalked by a male colleague in 2018. Sources said he followed her in person and tracked her online, and that when she complained the CBI launched an investigation.
It is understood the CBI upheld a finding of harassment. However, sources claim the woman was actively discouraged from reporting the stalking to the police and the alleged perpetrator retained his job.It is understood the CBI upheld a finding of harassment. However, sources claim the woman was actively discouraged from reporting the stalking to the police and the alleged perpetrator retained his job.
Aviva’s decision is understood to have been made before the most recent allegations were published. The British Insurance Brokers’ Association, which represents 1,800 insurance brokers and intermediaries, said earlier this week it was cancelling its membership of the umbrella lobby group.
It comes days after the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, which represents 1,800 insurance brokers and intermediaries, said it was cancelling its own membership of the umbrella lobby group. The supermarket chain Asda also confirmed it was pausing engagement with the CBI on Friday, meaning it would no longer take part in any information gathering exercises, meetings, roundtables or discussions with the lobby group unless it related to the harassment investigations.
Supermarket chain Asda also confirmed it was pausing engagement with the CBI on Friday, meaning it would no longer take part in any information gathering exercises, meetings, roundtables or discussions with the lobby group unless it related to the harassment investigations. “We are aware that further allegations have been made against the CBI and have decided to pause our engagement with them while these are investigated,” a spokesperson for Asda said.
“We are aware that further allegations have been made against the CBI and have decided to pause our engagement with them while these are investigated”, a spokesperson for Asda said. Friday’s revelations mark the second allegation of rape involving CBI staff; another staff member claimed she was raped by a manager on a 2019 summer boat party on the River Thames.
The lobby group has been plunged into turmoil by a series of allegations by more than a dozen women about misconduct by managers at the CBI. Friday’s revelations mark the second allegation of rape involving CBI staff, following another member of staff who claimed she was raped by a manager on a 2019 summer boat party on the River Thames.
The City of London launched its own investigation into the allegations last week.The City of London launched its own investigation into the allegations last week.
The CBI has also dismissed its director general Tony Danker, whose conduct was part of a different investigation by Fox Williams, which related to entirely separate allegations about his behaviour. The CBI has dismissed its director general, Tony Danker, whose conduct was part of a different investigation by Fox Williams, which related to entirely separate allegations about his behaviour.
Danker said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday that he felt he had been “the fall guy” for allegations unrelated to his own conduct and that his reputation had been “trashed”.Danker said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday that he felt he had been “the fall guy” for allegations unrelated to his own conduct and that his reputation had been “trashed”.
The CBI declined to comment.The CBI declined to comment.
In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support for rape and sexual abuse on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. International helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html