CBI boss Carolyn Fairbairn is having her first face-to-face meeting with Theresa May ahead of the Autumn Statement
CBI boss Carolyn Fairbairn is set to meet Theresa May for the first time later this month as the business lobby seeks to warm relations with Downing Street ahead of the Autumn Statement.
Fairbairn will have her first face-to-face with the Prime Minister since May took on the role in the Summer.
It comes after months of speculation over the new government's view of the business world – May entered office vowing to scrutinise all foreign takeovers in key British industries, tackle excessive corporate salaries and put workers on company boards.
Only last month home secretary Amber Rudd was forced into a rapid u-turn over plans to “flush out” businesses failing to hire enough UK staff.
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And May's own speech at the Conservative party conference saw a similarly furious response from businesses after she pledged action against “dysfunctional markets” and multinationals that “dodge” tax.
The CBI responded to that speech with a warning from Fairbairn against “approaches that look good on paper, but don’t make a difference in practice.”
One business source told City PM: “There have been a few issues that have been concerning us but we continue to have frequent meetings with ministers, as well as Labour and the Liberal Democrats, as we always do.”
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Earlier today, the CBI called on chancellor Philip Hammond to offset its own reduced GDP growth forecasts with fresh investment in infrastructure and research and development in the upcoming Autumn Statement.
It has previously called for up to £6bn in investment into the economy, as well as longer maternity leave in this month's fiscal event.