CBI suspends all key activity after membership exodus during day of chaos

Published

2 years ago

April 21, 2023

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The CBI has suspended all activity until June after major companies terminated their membership or suspended collaboration due to the scandal engulfing the business lobby group.

The rush for the exit door came after the Guardian newspaper reported that a second woman had made a rape allegation – against two male CBI co-workers – building on the series of historic serious misconduct claims to have engulfed the body in recent weeks.

Meta, John Lewis, NatWest, BT, BMW, ITV and Unilever were among the big names to take action.

Which businesses have quit or suspended membership of the CBI?

After a day of chaos, the CBI announced late on Friday that it would suspend all policy and membership activity until an extraordinary general meeting in June when they would put forward proposals to restructure the organisation.

“The CBI shares the shock and revulsion at the events that have taken place in our organisation, and at past failures that allowed these events to happen,” the group said in a statement.

“We are deeply sorry and express our profound regret to the women who have endured these horrific experiences,” they added.

Membership exodus

It came at the end of a bruising day which saw dozens of firms from across all sectors of business and industry pull their support from the group.

Banking giant NatWest Group said: “Following careful consideration, and having previously paused all activity, NatWest Group has today withdrawn its membership of the CBI with immediate effect.”

A spokesperson for Facebook owner Meta also confirmed that they had paused engagement with the CBI while the investigation is ongoing.

BT Group said: “In light of the appalling allegations made, BT Group has decided to suspend its membership of the CBI with immediate effect.”

CBI Statement in full

The CBI shares the shock and revulsion at the events that have taken place in our organisation, and at past failures that allowed these events to happen. We are deeply sorry and express our profound regret to the women who have endured these horrific experiences.

We have listened carefully to what our colleagues, members and stakeholders have said over recent days and weeks. We have heard loud and clear a demand for far reaching change.

We want to properly understand from our colleagues, members, experts and stakeholders how they envisage our future role and purpose. As a result, we have taken the difficult but necessary decision to suspend all policy and membership activity until an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in June.

At the EGM we will put forward proposals for a refocused CBI to our membership for them to decide on the future role and purpose of the organisation. This work and the cultural reform will be the entire and urgent focus of the organisation over the coming weeks.

Our members have told us in recent days and weeks that they believe in the importance of a collective voice to inform national policy and the unique role that an organisation like the CBI can play in public life. But much needs to change if we are to win back their trust so we may continue to represent business at this critical time for the country.

We are taking steps to address our failings but recognise these are not yet sufficient to sustain the confidence of our colleagues, members and of the broader business community. We know it will take time to rebuild trust in our purpose and culture. And to give our team and former colleagues the space to heal.

Carmaker BMW joined the exodus late on Friday, saying they were “concerned by the allegations relating to the CBI. The Group has therefore decided to terminate its membership with immediate effect”.

They were joined by Rolls-Royce, who said: “In light of the recent allegations, which are deeply concerning, we are suspending all interaction with the CBI with immediate effect.”

A spokesperson for ITV told Sky News that the broadcaster “will pause engagement with the CBI with immediate effect and will not renew our contract with them”.

Unilever also confirmed that they were severing ties, saying: “Due to the very serious and ongoing allegations, we can confirm that we have suspended our membership of the CBI.”

The John Lewis Partnership had earlier cited “further very serious and ongoing allegations” as the reason for quitting the organisation.

It’s not exaggerating to call this an existential crisis for the CBI

Ian King

Business presenter

@iankingsky

If one were to compile a list of some of the most prestigious blue-chip UK employers, it would probably include NatWest, BP, Shell, Aviva, the John Lewis Partnership, Virgin Media O2, WPP, Phoenix Group, BT, PwC, EY, Schroders and AstraZeneca.

Were that list to be enhanced with prestigious foreign-owned businesses that are major employers in the UK, and which enjoy a meaningful UK presence, it would probably extend to take in names such as BMW, Mastercard, Ford, Fidelity, Jaguar Land Rover and JP Morgan.

That underlines the crisis now engulfing the CBI. All of those companies have either paused their engagement with the employers organisation or cancelled their membership altogether in the wake of the latest allegations consuming the CBI.

It was bad enough that the CBI felt obliged to dismiss its former director-general, Tony Danker, amid allegations of workplace misconduct.

What made it worse was a report in The Guardian, the newspaper that first published details of the allegations against Mr Danker, that a former CBI employee had filed a complaint that she was raped at a party hosted by the organisation back in 2019.

That has now been made worse still by a second woman coming forward to say she had been raped by colleagues while working for the CBI.

It is not now over-exaggerating to say that this has become an existential crisis for the CBI.

Read the full analysis here

Insurers start the flight

Insurer Aviva was first to reveal its hand on Friday, just moments after Sky News reported that abrdn, the FTSE 100 fund manager, was also considering its position with the organisation.

Fellow insurers Phoenix Group and Zurich swelled the exodus alongside the industry body the ABI while Virgin Media O2 also confirmed it had terminated its membership.

Asda, accountancy giant PwC and National Grid later confirmed they had suspended all activity with the business lobby group while Lloyds Banking Group was also understood to have done the same.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said: “Following these grave allegations, we have decided to pause our engagements with the CBI while these are investigated.”

“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.”

CBI president Brian McBride had previously admitted that a “handful” of its 190,000 members had departed since the crisis began.

They are known to have included, before Friday, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association.

Shell is understood to have suspended dealings with the CBI last week.

The potential departure of abrdn would be acutely embarrassing for Mr McBride personally as he currently serves as a non-executive director at the firm.

Sky’s City editor Mark Kleinman reported that the board had been debating whether to terminate its status as a CBI member once a CBI-commissioned review of sexual abuse allegations against staff members had been completed.

A source said that alternatively it could decide not to renew its membership when it expires at the end of this year.

A string of blue-chip companies, including Rolls-Royce and Marks & Spencer, have raised public concerns about the crisis.

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

Mr Danker told the BBC this week he had been “thrown under the bus” and said the allegations against him did not merit his dismissal.

He also apologised for making a number of CBI employees “uncomfortable”.

Business leaders have lined up in recent weeks to denounce its handling of the crisis, saying it had been too slow to apologise and had erred by appointing an insider, Rain Newton-Smith, as Mr Danker’s successor.

Three employees have been suspended, while a police investigation is under way.

The CBI said this week that the second phase of an inquiry by the law firm Fox Williams would conclude 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,” the group said on Thursday.

UK

Parts of UK braced for ‘disruptive snow’ after coldest night of the season

Published

6 hours ago

November 18, 2024

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Parts of UK braced for 'disruptive snow' after coldest night of the season

The UK is being warned to brace for a further cold snap with “disruptive snow” set to sweep in across parts of the country as temperatures plummet.

The Met Office has issued three new yellow weather alerts for snow and ice from Monday.

The forecaster has warned up to 20cm of snow may accumulate in the worst affected areas as the country experiences its “first taste of winter”.

Check the forecast in your area

It comes as the first amber cold health alerts of the season have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering all of England, except the South, until 6pm on Saturday.

An amber warning is issued when the weather is likely to “cause significant impacts across health and social care services”, according to the HSA.

That includes the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among older people or those with health conditions.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: “It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”

Meanwhile yellow health alerts – the second lowest alert level – are in place for the South East, South West and London.

Temperatures dropped to -7.8C (18F) in Tulloch Bridge in the Scottish Highlands in the early hours of Monday, which is the lowest temperature the UK has seen since last winter.

Snow dusted grounds across Aberdeenshire, including at Glenshee Ski Centre and at Corgarff, as well as alongside the A939 near The Lecht in the Cairngorms.

Snow also blanketed the mountain of Ingleborough, while there was a sprinkling of frost near Clapham, in the Yorkshire Dales.

More expected in coming days

Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said snow has mostly fallen on hilltops so far, with 2cm falling in Lerwick, Shetland.

But more snow and ice is expected over the coming days, with temperatures plunging to below average levels for the time of year.

“It is going to be quite a widely cold week,” Ms Maxey said. “A few degrees below average both day and night for most of the country.”

The fresh warning for Northern Ireland comes into force from 3pm today and runs until 10am on Tuesday.

The alert takes in the likes of Newry, Belfast, Omagh, Derry and Ballycastle.

The warning in Scotland comes into force from 4pm and runs until 10am on Wednesday.

The alert covers the Highlands and Islands and the northeast of the country, including Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

A third warning – stretching across parts of England and Wales – comes into force at 7pm and runs until 10am on Tuesday.

East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the north of England are expected to be worst hit.

‘Slight chance’ communities could be cut off

Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.

The Met Office has said there is a “slight chance” some rural communities could be cut off and that bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled.

People have also been warned to be careful not to slip or fall on icy surfaces.

Snow ‘even down to lower levels’

Tom Morgan, Met Office meteorologist, said: “We could see some disruptive snow in the Pennine regions, in particular, the Peak District as well, especially Monday night, but we could well see some impacts lasting on until Tuesday morning’s rush hour.

“Even down to lower levels, we could well see some snow as well, so quite a bit of disruption possible by Tuesday morning, and then the week ahead is likely to stay cold nationwide, a windy day on Tuesday, and then winter showers through the week ahead.”

Mr Morgan said that despite a “mild” start to the month, the cold conditions are more typical of “mid-winter to late-winter”.

“What we can say is that it’s going to be very cold for the time of year, there will be widespread overnight frosts, and a few locations where there’s snow on the ground,” he continued.

Changes to weather warnings ‘likely’ in coming days

In southern England, a typical maximum temperature for this time of year is 11C (52F), but daytime highs for the week ahead are forecast to be around 5C (41F), while some parts of Scotland will reach “only just above freezing”, Mr Morgan said.

Mr Morgan said the public can best prepare for the wintry weather by checking their cars are suitable for icy and potentially snowy conditions and to take extra supplies including food, blankets and a fully charged mobile phone with them on journeys.

He added there were “likely” to be changes to the weather warnings in the coming days, and that “winter flurries” could be seen in the south of England later in the week.

Despite the cold conditions, the “whole of the UK” will enjoy more sunshine this week, he said.

He added: “There’ll be some snow showers in the peripheries of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, and down the east and the west coast, but if you live inland and you live in the south, there’ll be lots of sparkly blue skies on the most days through Tuesday to Friday.”

UK

Davina McCall makes ‘enormous leap forward’ and is out of ICU after surgery to remove brain tumour

Published

6 hours ago

November 18, 2024

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Davina McCall makes 'enormous leap forward' and is out of ICU after surgery to remove brain tumour

Davina McCall has made an “enormous leap forward in the last 24 hours”, her partner has said on her Instagram.

In an update, her partner Michael Douglas, said: “Update folks. Thanks so much to all the well wishers. She really has made an enormous leap forward in the last 24 hours. She is out of ICU She is ‘loving awareness’. Thank you xx Michael.”

The post also featured a bright pink text image, which said, “massive relief to see some light breaking through,” followed by four heart emojis.

“Thanks for all the good vibes coming in from all angles. Up and up,” it added.

Friends and fellow celebrities were quick to comment on the update, with actress Patsy Palmer writing, “sending healing,” Dame Kelly Holmes commenting “awesome news Michael” and Jools Oliver adding three heart emojis.

The 57-year-old television presenter had revealed in a video posted on Instagram earlier on Friday she had a benign brain tumour, a colloid cyst, which she described as “very rare”.

Speaking in the short video ahead of her operation, McCall had explained to her followers the benign tumour was around 14mm wide and “needed to come out, because if it grows it would be bad”.

She said a surgeon would remove the cyst through the top of her head in a procedure called a craniotomy.

In her video post, the former Big Brother host said she was “in good spirits,” and would be in hospital “for around nine days” following the procedure.

According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are slow-growing and unlikely to spread, but are still serious and can be life-threatening.

McCall’s partner is sharing updates from McCall’s account while she is recovering. This is his second update since her operation.

McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.

She’s gone on to present programmes across the networks, and currently presents ITV dating show My Mum, Your Dad.

Last year, McCall was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting.

In recent years, McCall has spoken regularly on women’s health and the effects of menopause in a bid to break taboos around the subject. Her 2022 book, Menopausing, won book of the year at the British Book Awards.

The same year, McCall fronted the Channel 4 documentary Davina McCall: Sex, Mind And The Menopause, and told the BBC that the perimenopausal symptoms caused her difficulties multi-tasking and she considered that she had a brain tumour or Alzheimer’s disease at the time.

Married twice, McCall has three children, two daughters and a son, with her second husband, presenter Matthew Robertson.

She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and they present a weekly lifestyle podcast together, Making The Cut.

UK

Morecambe and Wise: The letter that could have ended one of Britain’s best-loved double acts

Published

6 hours ago

November 18, 2024

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Morecambe and Wise: The letter that could have ended one of Britain's best-loved double acts

A letter in which Ernie Wise attempted to break up the double act that would go on to bring both him and Eric Morecambe worldwide fame is going on sale.

It’s part of a large archive of items belonging to Morecambe which are being sold at auction following the death in March this year of his widow, Joan, aged 97.

Morecambe died of a heart attack aged 58 in 1984. Wise died 15 years later in 1999, aged 73.

The letter, written by Wise in 1950, starts with him politely thanking Morecambe for his own letter, before writing: “Well Eric I want to get straight to the point, I want us to break up the act. I’m afraid it won’t work.”

Wise says he feels a “terrific amount” of animosity at home, and for that reason it would be better if the double act parted ways.

“I know this will be quite a shock to you but I had to come to some decision. I can’t go on as things are, I’m not satisfied with my work, I have lost a lot of zip and it will take time to regain it. I can’t keep you waiting around for me, I don’t know definitely when I will be out.

“I feel it’s a great pity after we had planned so much, but my mind’s made up.”

‘Message showed how close pair came to splitting up’

Hansons’ sale manager Victoria Sheppard described the letter as “a poignant message” showing “how close the pair came to splitting up”.

She went on: “Ernie explained that, with a very heavy heart, he wanted to break up the duo before they continued and became massive. He signed it ‘your best pal’. Thankfully that never happened.”

Of course, Morecambe and Wise stayed together. After first performing together on stage as teenagers, they got their own radio series in 1953, followed by a TV series the following year.

They would go on to become one of Britain’s biggest double acts, pulling in over 28 million viewers for their 1977 Christmas special.

Other items include famous glasses and Andre Previn sketch piano

The letter forms part of a collection being sold by Morecambe’s three children, Gail, Gary and Steven, collected from his former home, Brachefield in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

Gary, 58, an author from London, said: “Our mother barely touched anything in the house after our father’s death. Hence, we have had everything quite literally under the same roof for 56 years.”

Other items being sold include Morecambe’s famous glasses, the piano he practised on to deliver a Morecambe and Wise Christmas special sketch with conductor Andre Previn and telegrams from the late Prince Philip and letters from Margaret Thatcher and fellow comics Ronnie Barker and Tommy Cooper.

The Eric Morecambe Collection – which is being sold as 700 separate lots – will go on sale at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 January 2025.