UK Government defends U-turn on workers on Boards

When Prime Minister Theresa May announced at the beginning of her premiership that she would put workers in the Boardroom, a cross-party roar of approval could be heard.

But now, after an apparent dilution of the proposal at last week’s CBI conference – she said during a keynote speech: “While it is important that the voices of workers and consumers should be represented, I can categorically tell you that this is not about mandating works councils, or the direct appointment of workers or trade union representatives on Boards” – and further watering down expected, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and MP for Tunbridge Wells, has defended the apparent about-face.

Clark told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We are not going to make it happen.

“[We do not wish to] overturn what has been a successful system which has had the confidence of business around the world.