CBI cancels key events as it reels from rape claim

The Confederation of British Industry has postponed all public events as it looks into more allegations of drug abuse and sexual misconduct – including rape at a staff party.

The group – which is the UK’s biggest business lobbying organisation – said its high-profile annual dinner due to take place next month was among those that will not go ahead as planned.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey was due to speak at the event on May 11 where tickets cost £440 for an individual or more than £4,000 for a table. 

Rishi Sunak gave a speech at the dinner last year while he was Chancellor, and Philip Hammond and George Osborne have also attended in the past.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey was due to speak at the event on May 11

But the CBI said it has decided to ‘temporarily pause its external programme of events’ in the wake of ‘very serious allegations’ against staff.

The group, which claims to speak for 190,000 British businesses with nearly 7million employees, was already reeling after complaints against CBI director general Tony Danker emerged last month.

Danker agreed to step down while an investigation takes place.

The fresh allegations are understood not to relate to Danker, with the widening inquiry plunging the CBI into its biggest crisis since it was set up by Royal charter in 1965. 

More than a dozen women approached The Guardian newspaper claiming to be victims of sexual misconduct by senior figures at the lobbying group.

One woman said she was raped by a senior colleague at a CBI boat party on the Thames in the summer of 2019.

Other allegations include an attempted sexual assault by a manager at the same boat party and a senior manager sending explicit images to junior female staff over several years.

Senior managers have also been accused of behaving inappropriately towards younger female colleagues, with one former board member allegedly touching a woman’s bottom.

A manager allegedly propositioned women after pushing them to drink more alcohol, while cocaine use was reportedly widespread at CBI events.

One of the women said: ‘There are some kind men who work at the CBI. But there are also men who prey on younger women.

‘The experience of being targeted destroyed my confidence at work and in other parts of my personal life.’

Complaints against CBI director general Tony Danker emerged last month

The latest claims emerged a month after a female CBI employee alleged she had been sexually harassed by Danker.

An independent inquiry has been launched and Danker, 51, has stepped aside until a decision is reached. None of the new claims, which have been included in the inquiry, relate to him.

Labour MP Lisa Nandy has withdrawn from an appearance with the CBI due to the latest claims. The shadow secretary for levelling up, housing, communities and local government was due to appear at the CBI Political Engagement Dinner on April 25.

A CBI spokesman said: ‘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 May 11.

‘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.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk