CBI cancels all events after Guardian’s sexual misconduct allegations
The UK’s most prominent business lobbying organisation, the Confederation of British Industry, has cancelled forthcoming events including its annual dinner after the Guardian revealed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by its staff.
On Monday, the Guardian reported the claims from more than a dozen women that they had been victims of various forms of sexual misconduct by senior figures at the CBI. This included an account from a woman who alleges she was raped at a staff party on a boat on the River Thames.
Some of their claims were corroborated by more than 10 other current and former employees.
The latest allegations of misconduct by senior figures at the CBI, reported by the Guardian on Monday, are separate to those made about its director general, Tony Danker, last month.
A CBI spokesperson said on Tuesday: “In light of the very serious allegations that are currently subject to independent investigation, the CBI has decided to temporarily pause its external programme of events, including the annual dinner on 11 May.
“After Easter, the board hopes to have preliminary findings and actions from the first phase of the investigation and, among other steps, will review this pause in event activity at that point.” The earlier allegations relating to Danker are the subject of an independent investigation led by the law firm Fox Williams. He stepped aside from his post last month, pending its outcome.
The ongoing investigation has also been expanded to include the latest allegations put to the CBI by the Guardian. This includes an allegation of widespread use of cocaine at official CBI events.
Last year’s annual dinner was held at a former brewery in central London, with the then chancellor Rishi Sunak appearing as guest
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