CBI calls for members' support at crunch meeting

The scandal-hit Confederation of British Industry called on members for support on Tuesday as a crucial vote got underway in London.

The business lobby group has been devastated by revelations of a toxic workplace, including sexual harassment and bullying, and two allegations of rape, which are now being investigated by the police.

Director general Tony Danker was sacked and public events were mothballed, while the government suspended all its dealings with the group. Dozens of members have also quit.

The law firm Fox Williams, which was brought in to review the allegations and the internal culture, made 34 recommendations, all of which the CBI - under new director general Rain Newton-Smith - have accepted.

But it is now facing a confidence vote from members about its future.

In a statement released ahead of the extraordinary general meeting, Newton-Smith said: "I’m confident and determined that this will be a turning point for us. The start of a new chapter, for a renewed CBI.

"I am resolutely committed to leading that change and restoring the CBI to health.

"We are ready to deliver a better CBI. We need just one thing now - your vote."

However, there was criticism that the CBI was failing to be fully transparent, with neither former members nor the media invited to the meeting.

One executive at a trade association, which had previously been a member, told Sky News that claims by the CBI that it was being transparent were "laughable". They added: "We are not allowed to even watch the EGM today, so how can we possibly decide whether there might be a case to be made in the future to rejoin?"

On Monday, the British Chambers of Commerce looked to step into the void created by the scandal, after it announced it was launching a Business Council to help "design and drive" the future of the UK economy. Founding partners of the council include BP and Heathrow Airport.

However, on Tuesday Newton-Smith told members: "I know what this organisation can do when it is at its best. I’ve seen what we can achieve and how powerful that can be in driving change. Even our competitor groups have admitted they can’t match that."