Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
William Mata,Nuray Bulbul and Sian Baldwin

What is the CBI? Police 'not able to progress' with nearly all misconduct claIms

Police say they are "not able to progress further criminally" with 11 claims of serious misconduct at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

City of London Police were looking into allegations including sexual assault, but reportedly said they were now examining only one.

Sky News reported that the CBI understood that this did not relate to a current member of staff or the organisation itself.

The business lobby group's future was threatened in March last year when the Guardian reported several historical sexual misconduct claims by staff and former workers.

Its report in April that a second woman had made a rape allegation prompted many CBI members to either suspend their cooperation or leave the organisation amid the crisis.

The CBI has also this week settled legal action brought by its former director general Tony Danker, who was fired last year.

On Monday (February 5), a CBI representative said: “The CBI has today settled legal action brought against the organisation by Tony Danker after his dismissal in April 2023.

The CBI was set to shrink its workforce in an effort to drastically reduce costs, according to reports in 2023 ((Alamy/PA))

“The CBI board has agreed an undisclosed settlement with Mr Danker.

“The CBI board also reiterates that Mr Danker is not associated in any way with the historical allegations reported in the media concerning matters which pre-date his tenure at the CBI and rejects any such association.”

Rain Newton-Smith replaced Mr Danker, who said at the time that his “reputation had been completely destroyed” by the sacking.

More than 50 large businesses, including John Lewis and NatWest, suspended their membership or cut ties with the group amid the scandal.

So what is the CBI and what does it do?

What is the CBI?

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), established in 1965, claims to represent more than 190,000 businesses across the UK. Members are companies as well as trade associations.

The CBI acts as a lobby group on behalf of its members and is the country’s largest such organisation. It can seek to advise the British Government on issues affecting its members.

Its website says it has an “ambitious vision for the economy of the future”, and the desire to create a more carbon-neutral economy with levelling-up elements.

“We champion business so it can lead, not fear, the changes that are all around us,” the website says.

The CBI often engages in advocacy, research, and lobbying activities to shape policies related to trade, investment, taxation, regulation, and other issues affecting the business community.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.