Would the Confederation of British Industry be missed if it was gone?

With the ‘think tank by another name’ at the centre of a fresh slew of allegations, Chris Blackhurst says it’s been losing relevance for some time

The ‘voice of business’ appears increasingly out of touch (Reuters)

It takes a crisis to put things in perspective, to say what otherwise remains unsaid.

The Confederation of British Industry is facing such a moment. Having lost its director-general, Tony Danker, while complaints against him are investigated, the business leaders’ organisation now finds itself at the centre of separate accusations of sexual misconduct and drug abuse.

These too are being independently investigated but in the meantime, the government and the governor of the Bank of England have not hung around, pulling out of meetings and cancelling joint engagements. As a result, the CBI’s annual dinner at which the governor, Andrew Bailey, was the star turn, has been scrapped. Meanwhile, major business backers have indicated their unhappiness, effectively putting the body on notice that if there is any truth in the fresh set of claims they will be gone.