Asda suspends engagement with scandal-hit CBI

Leeds-headquartered Asda is among a growing list of big names ending their membership of the CBI or suspending collaboration due to the scandal surrounding the business lobby group.

The supermarket giant today stated: “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.”

Asda has joined major corporate players such as insurer Aviva, FTSE 100 fund manager abrdn, Phoenix Group, Zurich, Virgin Media O2, PwC, National Grid and Lloyds Banking Group in distancing itself from the CBI.

The latest withdrawals come after the Guardian newspaper reported that a second woman had made a rape allegation – against two male CBI co-workers – adding to a series of historic serious misconduct claims made against the body.

Last week, the CBI sacked Tony Danker, its director general, saying it had lost confidence in his ability to lead the organisation amid claims about his own personal conduct.

Danker told the BBC he had been “thrown under the bus” and argued the allegations against him did not justify his sacking. He also apologised for making some CBI employees “uncomfortable”.