CBI crisis deepens with further allegations
Business group rocked by second rape claim after woman says she was assaulted by male colleagues
A second allegation of rape by a woman employed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has plunged the business lobbying group into further crisis after a series of revelations of sexual misconduct and harassment.
The employee told The Guardian that she was raped by two male colleagues while working at an overseas office of the organisation, and reportedly blamed the culture at the CBI for staff thinking they “could act in this way and afterwards feel no worries, no fear of consequences”.
She is the second woman to say she was raped while working for the CBI. Her claims follow allegations of sexual misconduct reported by the same paper earlier this month from more than a dozen other female CBI employees.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“These latest allegations put to us by The Guardian are abhorrent,” the CBI president, Brian McBride, said in a statement. The CBI was “liaising closely” with the police, he added.
The scandal at the CBI “has seen at least 12 women complain about misconduct and senior members consider their positions with the organisation”, reported Sky News.
A number of allegations “are the subject of an investigation by the City of London Police”, the broadcaster added, and three employees have been suspended by the CBI.
In addition, the lobby group dismissed its director-general Tony Danker last week following a separate investigation into unrelated allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment. “Many of the allegations against me have been distorted,” Danker tweeted, “but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that.”
Danker told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he felt he had been “the fall guy” for the recent, more serious allegations against others, and that his reputation had been “trashed” by his former employer.
“I have never used sexually suggestive language with people at the CBI. I have never had any physical contact. I’ve never propositioned anybody.”
The CBI’s president said Danker’s description of events was “selective”, according to The Guardian.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for electric vehicles under Trump?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for Tesla's Elon Musk?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
CBI boss Tony Danker sacked amid misconduct probe
Speed Read UK business lobby group dismisses director-general and hears ‘devastating’ allegations against other senior managers
By Harriet Marsden Last updated
-
Mr X: mystery tycoon accused of rape and sexual assault
In Depth One of Britain’s wealthiest men is being investigated by police over former employee’s allegations
By The Week Staff Published
-
CBI: UK factories facing biggest slowdown since 2008 crisis
Speed Read Employers' organisation tells incoming PM to secure a Brexit deal
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Interest rate rise predicted as CBI warns on house prices
Speed Read Policymakers must be ready to act on 'unsustainable house prices', business leaders warn
By The Week Staff Published