Full list of companies that have pulled out of the CBI or putting memberships on hold
21.04.2023 - 17:33
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Some of the biggest companies in the UK have quit the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) following a second rape allegation from a woman working for the business group.
NatWest joined the John Lewis Partnership, BMW and Virgin Media O2 in cancelling their involvement with the CBI, casting doubt over the future of the business group. Aviva, Mastercard, Phoenix, Zurich, Vitality, B&Q owner Kingfisher and People’s Partnership also pulled their membership of the group after the latest in a series of misconduct allegations facing the CBI.
Other major employers – such as Asda, Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever, Scottish Power, the British Beer and Pub Association, and Shell – have also suspended all activity with the lobbying group. Earlier this month, the Government said it would pause all engagement with the CBI after initial reports over misconduct at the group.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
The crisis facing the trade group deepened after The Guardian reported on Friday that the woman claimed she was raped by two male colleagues. The woman claimed the alleged rape took place while she was unconscious following a night-out while working at a CBI office abroad.
She said she had no recollection of the rape itself but had described in detail the physical signs that led her to believe she was raped, and was later presented in the office with an explicit photograph. It is the second claim from a woman that she was a victim of rape at the organisation.
Previously, a member of staff alleged that she was attacked by a manager on a summer boat party in 2019. Details of the new rape allegation have been passed on to police.
City of London Police were already investigating the previous rape