CBI hit with second rape allegation

The CBI is facing a second allegation of rape from a woman who claims she was assaulted by two male colleagues.

According to the latest report from The Guardian, the offence took place at one of the CBI’s overseas offices and comes following reports of an alleged rape at a CBI summer party in 2019 which is currently under investigation from the City of London Police. 

The outlet also reported that it was told that a woman based at the organisation’s London office was stalked by a male colleague in 2018. Following reports of the incident the CBI launched an investigation and a finding of harassment was upheld but the man continued to work at the CBI. 

In response to the latest allegations, CBI president Brian McBride, said: “The latest allegations put to us by The Guardian are abhorrent and our hearts go out to any women who have been victims of the behaviour described. While the CBI was not previously aware of the most serious allegations, it is vital that they are thoroughly investigated now and we are liaising closely with the police to help ensure any perpetrators are brought to justice. 

“We recognise the substance of the harassment report outlined as relating to an allegation made and investigated in January 2018. The finding of harassment was upheld and a sanction was imposed.”

He added: ”However, the CBI does not recognise many of the most serious elements of the Guardian story relating to harassment, including the assertion that the individual had told the CBI of feelings of a sexual and violent nature towards the victim; and that he had followed her home. 

”Neither is the CBI aware and our records do not support the report that the CBI discouraged her from referring the matter to the police. We are rightly undertaking an urgent root and branch review of our culture to right the wrongs where we can and to reform our workplace for everyone. We are anticipating a further report from Fox Williams later today. The board will communicate its response to this and the other steps we are taking to bring about the wider change that is needed early next week.”

Last week the CBI revealed it had dismissed its director general Tony Danker following separate allegations of misconduct.

In March, it was revealed that Danker was to step away from his role due to an investigation into complaints concerning his conduct in the workplace. The CBI had engaged employment law at Fox Williams in an investigation into the allegations while CBI’s chief UK policy director, Matthew Fell, replaced Danker on an interim basis.

However, in a new announcement following the completion of the first phase of the investigation, the CBI revealed that Danker had been dismissed with immediate effect and replaced with former CBI chief economist and currently managing director, Strategy and Policy, Sustainability and ESG for Barclays, Rain Newton-Smith.

At the time the CBI said: “Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him. The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director general.”