2 minute read 1 Dec 2017
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Politics, populism and trust in business: discussions for the boardroom

Authors

Ken Williamson

EY UK&I Professional Practice Partner and Partner in Corporate Governance

Passionate about governance and audit which are critical to trust in business and a renewed focus on social purpose. Wine and exercise enthusiast - a perfect combination.

Mala Shah-Coulon

EY UK Corporate Governance, Associate Partner

Passionate about governance – a vital ingredient to running a successful enterprise and not a compliance imperative. Mum of twins and trustee at Bliss.

2 minute read 1 Dec 2017
Related topics Assurance Audit Reporting insights Financial accounting advisory services Future of corporate reporting
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The world is changing more quickly than ever. In the UK, political change has increased uncertainty, and trust in business is under the spotlight.

For many years, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report has tracked long-term trends, including deepening social and political polarisation. It details how these trends came into sharp focus in 2016, with rising political discontent and disaffection evident in countries across the world, particularly in the US and the UK.

As a source of economic power and an agent of economic change, big business is often a target of political movements characterised by a feeling that the existing political system represents the interests of an elite class but not those of wider society.

To explore the implications of this for corporate governance in the UK and understand how boards can respond to this shifting mood, EY and Global Counsel interviewed politicians, business leaders and board directors across a range of sectors.

In times of political uncertainty, boards need to understand how public and political expectations of business are evolving, and judge how to respond.
Mala Shah-Coulon
EY UK Corporate Governance, Associate Partner

This report draws on the reflections gained from these interviews about the impact of recent political trends on business in the UK, and provides practical considerations for boardroom discussion on:

  • Understanding and acting on political risk
  • Using stakeholder engagement to identify risk and opportunity
  • Navigating uncertainty with broad business purpose
  • Enabling a wider awareness of the business environment through board diversity.

With a thought-provoking foreword from Stephen Adams of Global Counsel, we hope this report helps boards reflect on the broad socio-political trends impacting business today, and the potential response from business and those that govern it.

“In times of political uncertainty, boards need to understand how public and political expectations of business are evolving, and judge how to respond,” says Mala Shah-Coulon, Associate Partner, EY Corporate Governance.

Download the report here.

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Summary

As a source of economic power and an agent of economic change, big business is often a target of political movements characterised by a feeling that the existing political system represents the interests of an elite class but not wider society. This paper explores the implications of this for corporate governance in the UK, and seeks to understand how boards can respond to political uncertainty.

About this article

Authors

Ken Williamson

EY UK&I Professional Practice Partner and Partner in Corporate Governance

Passionate about governance and audit which are critical to trust in business and a renewed focus on social purpose. Wine and exercise enthusiast - a perfect combination.

Mala Shah-Coulon

EY UK Corporate Governance, Associate Partner

Passionate about governance – a vital ingredient to running a successful enterprise and not a compliance imperative. Mum of twins and trustee at Bliss.

Related topics Assurance Audit Reporting insights Financial accounting advisory services Future of corporate reporting
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