Top executives from significant British companies like AstraZeneca and Shell have shown interest in joining the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak,’s newly established Business Council. This action aims to rekindle the partnership between his political party and the British business community.
The inclusion of Pascal Soriot and Wael Sawan represents a group of 14 influential executives who will collaborate with Downing Street on strategies to enhance investment, innovation, and the availability of skills and talent.
Newly formed Business Council
Alison Rose from NatWest Group and C.S. are among the other executives who will assist the prime minister in guiding rejuvenating the UK’s underperforming economy. Barclays’ Venkatakrishnan, GSK’s Emma Walmsley, and Simon Roberts from J Sainsbury.
Sunak’s latest group, set to convene for the first time in Downing Street on Tuesday, joins the extensive series of councils introduced by successive prime ministers in recent times. Since the launch of former leader Boris Johnson’s updated Business Council in February of last year, this group is the first of its kind.
- Top executives have shown interest in joining Sunak’s newly established Business Council.
- Sunak’s latest group, is set to convene for the first time in Downing Street on Tuesday.
- The establishment of the new council took place after the scandal involving the Confederation of British Industry.
Sunak held a meeting with Johnson’s former Business Council in December of last year and subsequently disbanded the group without any public announcement.
Since Theresa May assumed office in 2016, the business community and the Conservative Party have had a strained and difficult association. In anticipation of the upcoming general election, the Labour Party has made efforts to establish stronger connections with corporations, aiming to take advantage of this opportunity.
The establishment of the new council took place after the scandal involving the Confederation of British Industry, where prominent companies withdrew from the organization due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
