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Corporate responsibility advocates are hoping the Confederation of
British Industry may take a more sympathetic approach to CSR with the
appointment of the former Financial Times editor Richard Lambert as
director-general.
Lambert, who succeeds Sir Digby Jones on 1 July, has been broadly supportive of CSR for a number of years. However, during Jones’s six years the CBI has often been sceptical towards CSR, particularly in the area of regulation. CBI lobbying against the UK government’s Operating and Financial Review regime – which would have required companies to make forward-looking annual reports on matters such as their social and environmental impacts – led to its last-minute withdrawal this year.
Now the CBI is opposing a clause in the Company Law Reform Bill that would make company directors consider the interests of stakeholders other than shareholders. The CBI has also been a key voice in opposition to proposed United Nations ‘norms’ that would set out the social responsibilities of multinationals.
Although the CBI said Lambert would not make detailed public comments about his stance on business issues until he takes over, he has already indicated that forging stronger links between businesses and the community will be a priority. Lambert has long supported initiatives to encourage CSR, and Business in the Community has recognized his contribution with an ambassador award.
Lambert has also made many speeches on CSR during the past five years – including at events organized by the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Corporate Responsibility and, in the US, Harvard University.
Under Lambert’s editorship the Financial Times increased its coverage of social and environmental matters in relation to business, and has treated the subject as a mainstream editorial topic for several years.
Janet Williamson, policy officer, economic and social affairs at the TUC, said: ‘A change of leadership will give the CBI the opportunity to get in line with their more progressive members, rather than defend their backwards-looking tail’.
Lambert, who succeeds Sir Digby Jones on 1 July, has been broadly supportive of CSR for a number of years. However, during Jones’s six years the CBI has often been sceptical towards CSR, particularly in the area of regulation. CBI lobbying against the UK government’s Operating and Financial Review regime – which would have required companies to make forward-looking annual reports on matters such as their social and environmental impacts – led to its last-minute withdrawal this year.
Now the CBI is opposing a clause in the Company Law Reform Bill that would make company directors consider the interests of stakeholders other than shareholders. The CBI has also been a key voice in opposition to proposed United Nations ‘norms’ that would set out the social responsibilities of multinationals.
Although the CBI said Lambert would not make detailed public comments about his stance on business issues until he takes over, he has already indicated that forging stronger links between businesses and the community will be a priority. Lambert has long supported initiatives to encourage CSR, and Business in the Community has recognized his contribution with an ambassador award.
Lambert has also made many speeches on CSR during the past five years – including at events organized by the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Corporate Responsibility and, in the US, Harvard University.
Under Lambert’s editorship the Financial Times increased its coverage of social and environmental matters in relation to business, and has treated the subject as a mainstream editorial topic for several years.
Janet Williamson, policy officer, economic and social affairs at the TUC, said: ‘A change of leadership will give the CBI the opportunity to get in line with their more progressive members, rather than defend their backwards-looking tail’.
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