A SENIOR Tory business leader and Liz Truss ally has quit the party after almost four decades citing the party’s alleged “f*** business” attitude and approach to transgender issues.
Iain Anderson, who is also pals with Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, said that after 39 years he would be leaving the party saying “it’s not the party it used to be – I can’t defend it".
The founder of the Cicero public relations firm - who has said he will be switching to Labour - opposed the UK Government's blocking of gender reform legislation passed in the Scottish Parliament before Christmas.
He was named as LGBT business champion in Boris Johnson’s government in September 2021, but has since slammed the party’s approach to transgender matters.
When he was appointed, Truss – who was then minister for women and equalities – spoke of Anderson’s “considerable experience working with a range of businesses” and said he would be vital for improving the workplace for LGBT people, but he quit the role last year after becoming disillusioned.
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He claimed ministers were trying to “drive a wedge” between transgender people and gay, lesbian and bisexual people.
“The first thing is the party’s relationship with business,” he told the Financial Times, saying its approach seemed to reflect Johnson’s infamous comment “f*** business” in relation to Brexit.
He added: “I’ve tried to understand why a Conservative leader could say that and nobody in the party blink an eyelid about it.”
It comes as many business leaders become increasingly critical of the Tory UK Government’s perceived lack of a growth strategy.
Tony Danker, head of the CBI employers’ group, said last month: “Denial of where our economy is right now compared to our international competitors is the surest way to leave the UK’s growth prospects faltering this decade.”
Anderson met with Keir Starmer recently to discuss business policy and said he was confident the party leader would “do what he says”.
Anderson said he was also frustrated by the Tories plan to “run a culture war” as part of the 2024 election strategy.
He added: “It was made pretty clear the plan is to run a culture war to distract from economic failings.
“It’s not something I want any part of.”
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