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’.
