The CBI is old hat. A new body needs to speak for big business

THE Confederation of British Industry has a grand title. It's a 57-year-old institution representing 190,000 British companies and millions of businesspeople that has sat around the top tables for decades.

- Stefan Allesch-Taylor

But now following the messy events of recent weeks ending in the sacking of its former boss Tony Danker - who yesterday insisted he was the "fall guy" for the whole sorry saga - the CBI is fighting for its very survival.

So, if it does not have a long-term future, what should happen next?

It's a sad and frustrating fact that the rise of the "career politician" has led to a lack of people in government making policy decisions with a deep understanding of business. That needs to change.

As a lobbying group the CBI campaigns against government decisions doesn't like, indeed it says speaks for 33% of the entire British workforce.

What I find odd is that anyone takes this seriously. The idea that a lobbying group speaks with a unified voice when its constituents range from universities to blue chip companies, lacks creditability to me.