'We're more trusted than politicians. Just'
In the wake of 'Occupy St Pauls' and headlines concerning tax evasion and sickening pay packets, Joe Bloggs has no love for business leaders, said CBI director-general John Cridland.
Business is in the doghouse. ‘Only 29% of UK adults trust business leaders to tell the truth,’ screamed the latest Ipsos MORI 2011 Veracity Index. Cridland summed up the public sentiment at the CBI Annual Conference today: ‘At its worst the impression of business is one of greed or selfish indulgence. Some people feel wronged.’
In a complete departure from the usual party line. While 2010 was the year of 'You're doing great, guys. Keep up the good work and get this economy going', this year the CBI boss took to the stage to exhort business to ‘do more’.
‘Businesses should show how they do good by doing good business,’ he said. He accused businesses of operating in a bubble: ‘somewhere along the line, [they] have become disconnected from wider society. They’ve not had the same success talking to people in their communities as they’ve had talking to their colleagues.’
