‘CBI is no longer able to fulfil its core function’
The CBI has suspended all key activity until June after a slew of big-name businesses – including Derby engineering giant Rolls-Royce – cut ties with the crisis-hit organisation.
On Friday, Aviva, the insurance giant, said it has “terminated” its membership of the CBI after the business organisation was hit by another wave of allegations. Rolls-Royce, Meta, John Lewis, NatWest, BT, BMW, ITV and Unilever all followed suit.
The news comes after The Guardian revealed that a second woman had made an allegation of rape against two male CBI colleagues.
In a statement, 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.
“We have therefore regrettably terminated our membership with immediate effect.”
Aviva’s move comes after Sky News reported that fund manager abrdn was also considering whether or not to quit its membership of the CBI. This could be potentially embarrassing for the lobbying body, as its president, Brian McBride serves as a non-executive director at the firm.
This morning, we reported that the CBI had passed on fresh information to the police over a “serious criminal offence”.
In a statement on Thursday (April 20), the CBI said: “Late yesterday afternoon the CBI was made aware of additional information relating to a report of a serious criminal offence. We have passed that information immediately to the police, with whom we are liaising closely and who have asked us not to comment further on potentially criminal matters. Recognising the need for confidentiality, we urge anyone, including the media, who has further information in relation to any alleged offence to also report that to the police.
“We are anticipating findings from Fox Williams on the matters it has been looking at imminently. The board will be communicating its response to this and other steps we are taking to bring about the wider change that is needed early next week.”
