CBI business group facing second rape allegation – BBC News

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  • By Dearbail Jordan
  • Business reporter, BBC News

The CBI is facing a second allegation of rape by a woman who claims she was seriously sexually assaulted by two male colleagues.

The Guardian reported the assault took place when the woman was working at one of the CBI’s overseas offices.

The CBI said these latest allegations “are abhorrent and our hearts go out to any women who have been victims of the behaviour described”.

It said that it was not previously aware of these allegations.

But Brian McBride, president of the CBI, added: “It is vital that they are thoroughly investigated now and we are liaising closely with the police to help ensure any perpetrators are brought to justice.”

The City of London police is already investigating an alleged rape at a CBI summer party in 2019.

The BBC has contacted the City of London police in connection with the second alleged rape.

On Friday, two of the UK’s largest insurance firms, Aviva and Phoenix Group, said they were cancelling their membership of the CBI – one of the UK’s leading business lobby groups which claims to speak for 190,000 companies.

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.”

Phoenix Group said: “Further to the allegations reported this morning, we have taken the decision to resign our membership of the CBI with immediate effect.”

Meanwhile, supermarket group 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.”

The government had already announced that it was “pausing” its engagement with the CBI. Last week the British Insurance Brokers’ Association said it had withdrawn its membership “in light of recent reports”.

The Guardian also reported that a woman at the CBI’s London office had been stalked by a male colleague in 2018.

She complained to the CBI and a finding of harassment was upheld.

However, the newspaper reports that the man continued to work at the organisation and eventually left for unrelated reasons.

In response, the CBI said: “We recognise the substance of the harassment report outlined as relating to an allegation made and investigated in January 2018.

“The finding of harassment was upheld and a sanction was imposed.”

Dame Carolyn Fairbairn was the director-general of the CBI between 2015 and 2020. The BBC has contacted her for comment.

Earlier this month, claims of misconduct and sexual assault at the CBI emerged.

The group has suspended three employees pending the outcome of an investigation by law firm Fox Williams.

Mr McBride said it is anticipating a report from Fox Williams later on Friday.

“The board will communicate its response to this and the other steps we are taking to bring about the wider change that is needed early next week,” he said.

Mr Danker took over from Dame Carolyn in late 2020.

The CBI has appointed Rain Newton-Smith – its former chief economist – as its new director-general. Ms Newton-Smith had been at the CBI for nearly nine years before leaving last month to join Barclays but is now returning to the business lobby group.

Mr McBride said: “We are rightly undertaking an urgent root and branch review of our culture to right the wrongs where we can and to reform our workplace for everyone.”

However, some have questioned whether someone who has worked at the CBI is the right person to lead an overhaul of the organisation and its culture.

Commenting on Thursday on Ms Newton-Smith’s appointment, Ann Francke, the chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said: “I’m not sure there was a huge amount of openness and transparency around the process and obviously you can question whether somebody who was there is the right change agent to change the culture.”

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