• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Business and Economics

Boris Johnson pulls out of CBI conference

Early reports indicate there were no emergency fridges to hide in...

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2020-11-02 08:23
in Business and Economics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Boris Johnson pulled out of an appearance at the annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Monday as he prepared to address MPs over the new lockdown for England.

CBI president Lord Bilimoria said is was only the second time a Prime Minister had not spoken at the event.

The group’s director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said on Sunday the second national lockdown will be a “real body blow” for firms and that appearing at the conference was an opportunity for the Prime Minister “to make it absolutely clear that he backs business”.

Only not happened once in history

But Lord Bilimoria revealed on Monday morning that the PM had pulled out and was being replaced by Business Secretary Alok Sharma.

Lord Bilimoria told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is absolutely normal, in the history of the CBI, for the Prime Minister of the day to address the annual conference.

“To my knowledge this has only not happened once in history.

“He is not going to be addressing us this morning.

“However, we are hopeful that at some stage he will engage with us.”

Strange decision by Boris Johnson to pull out of CBI conference – feels like business deserves an explanation today

— Jason Groves (@JasonGroves1) November 2, 2020

“Could be a lot better”

Dame Carolyn warned on Sunday that Mr Johnson’s relationship with business “could be a lot better”.

RelatedPosts

Trump unveils $499 gold mobile phones for ‘real Americans’

No ‘millionaire exodus’ as a result of Labour policies, study finds

Shops could be forced to accept cash in future

Liverpool to introduce tourist tax from June

Asked if he is a business-friendly Prime Minister, she told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “I think he is in his bones, but I think what we now need to see is that in action.”

She said the annual CBI conference is an opportunity for Mr Johnson “to make it absolutely clear that he backs business”, before adding: “It has been a disappointment to me that there hasn’t been a closer relationship there … I think it could be a lot better, I really do.”

Lockdown is a decision for government, not business, but for many firms 2nd national lockdown marks the start of a bleak midwinter. Extending furlough is a vital step. Must use lockdown to roll out mass testing as matter of national urgency – it’s an economic game changer.

— Carolyn Fairbairn (@cbicarolyn) October 31, 2020

“Tail-end Charlie”

Dame Carolyn warned that economic support for business during the pandemic “has felt too often as though it’s tail-end Charlie”, adding that “if that isn’t there then jobs will be lost now”.

She added that mass rapid testing for business “could be a total game-changer” as England prepares to enter a four-week lockdown from Thursday.

“It’s an incredibly difficult time for business – this is a real body blow,” she said.

“So many firms have worked very hard to become Covid-safe, they have been resilient through the first phase, so this is undoubtedly very tough.”

She will warn in a speech on the opening day of the conference on Monday that young people have been particularly hard hit by the recession, with the havoc wreaked by Covid potentially creating a “lost generation”.

She will recommend the creation of a National Commission for Economic Recovery, bringing together business, government, unions, education and other parts of civil society, and call for work to start before the pandemic has come to a close.

Related: Brexit Party to be relaunched as anti-lockdown party called Reform UK

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← Brexit Party to be relaunched as anti-lockdown party called Reform UK ← Flashback: To when Nigel Farage said the experts have “got it wrong” on smoking
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->