New business group formed ahead of CBI vote

The council boasts BP, Heathrow and Drax among its founding members. 

The new group comes ahead of a crunch vote being faced by the CBI, amid a tirade of sexual misconduct allegations levelled against top personnel. 

The CBI has been canvassing opinion from its members regarding new reforms which are to be announced on Tuesday (6 June). 

It has publicly received backing from some of its most prominent members, such as Microsoft and Siemens. 

The new group will undoubtably seek support from firms who cut ties with CBI following the scandal, such as John Lewis and BMW.

BCC director general Shevaun Haviland and president Baroness Martha Lane Fox will join business leaders in London on Monday to discuss its new council, as well as its ambitions to represent the interests of UK firms.

Haviland said: "Over the past few months we have been talking to the nation’s largest corporates and it has become clear to us they are looking for a different kind of representation."

"These businesses want to be part of a framework that’s rooted in their local communities, but with the ability to shape the national and international debate." she added.