Labour shadow minister meets CBI boss, suggesting boycott may be ending | Labour

The Labour party has moved closer to ending its boycott of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), in an early sign that steps to rehabilitate the crisis-hit UK lobby group may be working.

Labour on Sunday confirmed its shadow business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, had met the new CBI director general, Rain Newton-Smith, last week.

Labour and the Conservative party had cut ties with the CBI because of the sexual misconduct scandal first exposed by the Guardian. Dozens of women came forward claiming to have experienced misconduct while working at the CBI, including two who said they were raped.

In the wake of the revelations, the lobby group’s future was cast into doubt, after many of the UK’s most prominent businesses, including Tesco, John Lewis and NatWest, suspended or withdrew their membership.

Two weeks ago the CBI’s new management won a crunch vote from its remaining members to continue after vowing to reform its culture and governance.

At the time the prime minister said there were no immediate plans to re-engage with the CBI. Labour also confirmed it would also not resume discussions with the group.

However, two weeks later the picture has shifted. A report in the Financial Times over the weekend cited a Labour party official as having described the meeting with Newton-Smith as “positive” and “warm”.

“Jonathan and Rain met to discuss the changes the CBI are making. Labour have resumed staff level contact and will continue to review political engagement as the CBI work to restore the confidence of their members,” a Labour spokesman.

Other shadow ministers have reportedly not yet been given permission to engage with the lobby group.

Earlier this month Rishi Sunak shied away from questions over whether the government would re-engage, saying there were “matters at the CBI are for the CBI and for its members to work through.”