CBI: Rishi Sunak refuses to say business body will be back in the room Breaking The Confederation of British Industry survived a confidence vote on its future yesterday, after members voted in favour of the scandal-hit lobbying organisation’s transformation plan. However, overnight the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested that may not be enough for the body to be invited back into key meetings on business policy with the government. Matters [...]
Microsoft rallies behind licensing regime for AI firms to ensure safety Tech The president of Microsoft has called for a licensing regime for artificial intelligence firms, arguing that such a system would be needed to ensure AI models are used safely. “There is some category of models that is so powerful, so impactful, there will need to be certain regulations and laws – new regulations and laws [...]
Starmer hints Labour could link government contracts to how firms treat unions POLITICS Keir Starmer has suggested that, under a Labour government, the awarding of state contracts could hinge on how companies treat trade unions that represent their staff. Speaking at the annual congress of trade union GMB in Brighton yesterday, Starmer said that Amazon should “recognise unions”, arguing that his party would beef up the power of [...]
CBI to face no-confidence vote today with future in the balance June 6, 2023 The CBI will find out if it has a future after a vote of members that is effectively a confidence vote in the body's new leadership.
Ex-Autoglass boss to donate £5m to Labour in bid to smash Tories at election June 5, 2023 The former Autoglass chief Gary Lubner is set to donate £5m to Labour to bolster its coffers ahead of the next election battle. The South African-born businessman told the Financial Times he had wanted to help Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer get the party into power “for a long time”. He said: “This is the [...]
BP and Heathrow join new BCC business council pitched as CBI rival June 5, 2023 Top global firms have led the charge to support a new rival to the under-fire CBI lobbying organisation. Energy giant BP, power firm Drax, Heathrow Airport and international hoteliers IHG have become founding members of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) business council. The organisation is set to take on the Confederation of British Industry [...]
Retailers urge rethink on net zero ‘grocery tax’ as public blame Brexit for rising costs June 4, 2023 Top retailers have urged the government to rethink plans for green levies to fund the recycling of food packaging in a bid to avoid a further rise in spiralling food costs. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned the scheme, dubbed the ‘net zero grocery tax’, could push up shopping bills by up to £4bn [...]
Labour’s plan to wind down oil and gas extraction is ‘naive’ and risks ‘cliff edge’ for production, union chief warns June 4, 2023 Labour’s energy plans have been branded “naive” amid warnings the party risks creating a “cliff edge” for production, a union chief has warned. GMB general secretary Gary Smith said Labour’s policies “are going to create a cliff edge with oil and gas extraction from the North Sea”. Speaking on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday [...]
‘Can’t come soon enough’: Will Sunak follow through on 2p tax cut reports? June 4, 2023 Rishi Sunak’s mooted plans to reduce the tax burden from a seven-decade high with a 2p cut in income tax ahead of the next election have been welcomed by Tory campaigners. Reports surfaced in the Sunday Telegraph that the PM – an ex-City banker – is keen to cut charges in order to incentivise work [...]
Ex-CBI chief Tony Danker considers suing scandal-hit lobby group over dismissal June 4, 2023 Former chief of the Confederation of British Industry is considering suing the scandal-hit lobby group after he was dismissed from the top job as the group became embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal.
