CBI business group postpones events after sexual misconduct allegations

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), one of the UK’s biggest business groups, has postponed all public events after fresh allegations over sexual misconduct.

The group will pause events including its annual dinner, which is regularly attended by the Chancellor and was due to host Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey this year.

It had been due to take place on May 11.

It comes a day after the CBI said it is investigating “all recent allegations” after The Guardian said it had been approached by more than a dozen women who said they had been victims of sexual misconduct by senior figures at the lobbying group.

One woman alleged to the newspaper that she had been raped during a staff party in 2019 and was later told by a manager to get counselling rather than to pursue the issue further.

The woman said she had not reported the event to the police and the CBI told the newspaper it had no record of the incident.

In a statement on Monday, the CBI said that commenting on cases would undermine a separate investigation which the group launched after its chief executive was accused of wrongdoing last month.

Law firm Fox Williams was hired to oversee an independent investigation in March.

CBI boss Tony Danker stepped aside from his role a month ago after it was reported the group was looking into his conduct.

A woman employed by the CBI alleged Mr Danker had made unwanted contact with her which she considered to be sexual harassment.

Mr Danker apologised for causing “offence or anxiety to any colleague” and said that it was “unintentional”.

It is understood the latest allegations are not related to Mr Danker.

On Tuesday, 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.”