CBI’s future in doubt after flood of UK’s biggest firms quit

Members including John Lewis and NatWest exit after Guardian reports of sexual misconduct allegations

• Comment: As CBI faces an exodus, do we need something to replace it?
• Second woman claims she was raped by CBI colleagues

The future of the Confederation of British Industry is in doubt after a flood of the UK's biggest companies, including John Lewis and NatWest, terminated their memberships following the Guardian's publication of new allegations of rape and sexual harassment at the business lobbying group.

The CBI, which claims to represent 190,000 members employing nearly 7 million people, will be counting the cost of the loss of lucrative annual membership fees at a time when the government has suspended all activity with the group pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations.