CBI: Business group giant wins key vote over its future

Business lobby group the CBI has won a key confidence vote over its future after members gave their backing following a series of scandals.

The CBI said that 93% of those members who voted backed proposals set out to reform the organisation.

In total, 371 members voted. The CBI claims to speak on behalf of 190,000 firms but would not say how many of these were eligible to vote.

It is not yet clear if the government will re-engage with the lobby group.

The CBI's core function is to speak to the government on behalf of thousands of UK businesses.

The government paused any activity with the CBI following allegations of sexual misconduct at the group which were revealed in the Guardian newspaper.

A number of companies suspended their membership of the CBI but were allowed to take part in Tuesday's vote.

However some, such as BT, said they would not vote on Tuesday.

Following the result of the vote, Rain Newton-Smith, director general of the CBI, said:  "After an incredibly tough period, I'm deeply grateful for the faith shown in us by our members.

"We've made real progress in implementing the top-to-bottom programme of change promised by the board and, while there remains work to do, today's result represents an important milestone on that journey."

Although the CBI has won the backing of its remaining members, a recent exodus of fee-paying companies is already affecting the organisation.

It recently said it would have to make job cuts in order to slash its wage bill by a third.

The CBI employs about 250 people in the UK and has offices overseas.