we will have more from anna on that story later. the uk government has suspended engagement with one of the country s leading business groups the cbi pending an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug abuse at the lobbying group. let s get the latest on this from our business editor simonjack. just talk to us about the allegations. they have been around this week, but today was quite a landmark moment in the uk government, saying, hang on, until you fix this, we don t want any part of it? ~ ., you fix this, we don t want any part of it? ~ . ,. ., you fix this, we don t want any part of it? ~ . , , ., of it? what i discovered earlier this morning of it? what i discovered earlier this morning is of it? what i discovered earlier this morning is that of it? what i discovered earlier this morning is that the - of it? what i discovered earlier i this morning is that the treasury, everyone from the chancellor, to ministers, to all officials down at hmt
department for business lobbying groups, although there may be some background conversations between the lower levels, there have been no ministerial involvement whatsoever. that is a really interesting, big deal. because the cbi represents 190,000 firms around the country, who pay membership fees to be a member of it. it does two main thing is, it lobbies the government for the interests of its members, and it promotes best practice within business. i think it would be fair to say they are in a position to do neither of those two things at the moment, which is why it is little wonder, perhaps that a lot of members are questioning the value of their membership of it. most of the members we have approached are saying, listen, we will be like everyone else, we are going to wait for the preliminary findings of this independent law firm led investigation into these. they have been promised to get some preliminary findingsjust been promised to get some preliminary findings just after easter