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| EU referendum: John Longworth resigns as commerce boss over Brexit debate | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The leader of one of the UK’s biggest business groups has resigned from his job after being suspended for expressing his support for a British exit from the European Union. | The leader of one of the UK’s biggest business groups has resigned from his job after being suspended for expressing his support for a British exit from the European Union. |
| Related: Brexit would damage EU and UK 'politically and economically' | Related: Brexit would damage EU and UK 'politically and economically' |
| John Longworth quit as the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) on Sunday, following the controversy over his suggestion that the UK could have a “brighter” future outside the EU. Longworth told reporters at the BCC’s conference last week that Britain would be left, “sitting on the margins” of an “unreformed EU” if voters chose to remain in the EU at the 23 June referendum. | John Longworth quit as the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) on Sunday, following the controversy over his suggestion that the UK could have a “brighter” future outside the EU. Longworth told reporters at the BCC’s conference last week that Britain would be left, “sitting on the margins” of an “unreformed EU” if voters chose to remain in the EU at the 23 June referendum. |
| Longworth told the Guardian by text message on Sunday night that he is planning to expand upon his views in the run up to the referendum in June. | Longworth told the Guardian by text message on Sunday night that he is planning to expand upon his views in the run up to the referendum in June. |
| However, he pointedly did not respond to questions asking whether either he or the BCC had been put under pressure by Downing Street or members of the Remain campaign to either suspend him or remove him from office. | However, he pointedly did not respond to questions asking whether either he or the BCC had been put under pressure by Downing Street or members of the Remain campaign to either suspend him or remove him from office. |
| In a text message to the Guardian, he said: “FYI [For Your Information] I have resigned from the BCC as I would like to be free to [be] able to express my own views freely on the EU referendum debate.” | In a text message to the Guardian, he said: “FYI [For Your Information] I have resigned from the BCC as I would like to be free to [be] able to express my own views freely on the EU referendum debate.” |
| “My decision to resign is entirely my own and one of conviction in order that I can devote my time to being able to speak freely on [t]he issue of the EU referendum. | “My decision to resign is entirely my own and one of conviction in order that I can devote my time to being able to speak freely on [t]he issue of the EU referendum. |
| “My resignation was entirely my choice and voluntary on my part,” he added. | “My resignation was entirely my choice and voluntary on my part,” he added. |
| The BCC’s president, Nora Senior, insisted that “no politician or interest group” had any influence on the initial decision of the BCC’s board to suspend Longworth and that there were “no external factors” in his subsequent decision to quit. | The BCC’s president, Nora Senior, insisted that “no politician or interest group” had any influence on the initial decision of the BCC’s board to suspend Longworth and that there were “no external factors” in his subsequent decision to quit. |
| Downing Street has strenuously denied claims from Brexit campaigners that it put pressure on the BCC, to act following Longworth’s comments at the group’s annual conference on Thursday. | Downing Street has strenuously denied claims from Brexit campaigners that it put pressure on the BCC, to act following Longworth’s comments at the group’s annual conference on Thursday. |
| Ukip’s MP, Douglas Carswell, responded to the announcement by tweeting: “Well done Downing Street. You got your man.” | Ukip’s MP, Douglas Carswell, responded to the announcement by tweeting: “Well done Downing Street. You got your man.” |
| He added: “This is what Project Fear looks like. Nasty people in Number 10.” | He added: “This is what Project Fear looks like. Nasty people in Number 10.” |
| Senior said the BCC’s “neutrality in the referendum debate reflects the real divisions that exist in business communities across the UK”. | Senior said the BCC’s “neutrality in the referendum debate reflects the real divisions that exist in business communities across the UK”. |
| She added: “John Longworth and the BCC board recognise that John’s personal view on the referendum is likely to create confusion regarding the BCC’s neutral stance going forward. | She added: “John Longworth and the BCC board recognise that John’s personal view on the referendum is likely to create confusion regarding the BCC’s neutral stance going forward. |
| “In light of this, John has taken the decision to step down as director general and his resignation has been accepted by the board with effect from 6 March 2016. | “In light of this, John has taken the decision to step down as director general and his resignation has been accepted by the board with effect from 6 March 2016. |
| “No politician or interest group had any influence on the BCC board decision to suspend Mr Longworth. His subsequent resignation was agreed mutually between Mr Longworth and the BCC board and there were no external factors involved. | “No politician or interest group had any influence on the BCC board decision to suspend Mr Longworth. His subsequent resignation was agreed mutually between Mr Longworth and the BCC board and there were no external factors involved. |
| “All representatives of the BCC have the right to personal and political views on the key issues of the day. However they are not expected to articulate these views while acting in their professional capacity, as their views could be misconstrued as representing the position of the organisation as a whole.” | “All representatives of the BCC have the right to personal and political views on the key issues of the day. However they are not expected to articulate these views while acting in their professional capacity, as their views could be misconstrued as representing the position of the organisation as a whole.” |
| London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, who backs Brexit, had expressed his support for Longworth. Johnson claimed the business leader had been “crushed by the agents of project fear”. | London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, who backs Brexit, had expressed his support for Longworth. Johnson claimed the business leader had been “crushed by the agents of project fear”. |
| On BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show, Johnson criticised the “negative” approach of the remain camp. | On BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show, Johnson criticised the “negative” approach of the remain camp. |
| “This is like the jailer has accidentally left the door of the jail open and people can see the sunlit land beyond. And everybody is suddenly wrangling about the terrors of the world outside. Actually it would be wonderful. It would be a huge weight lifted from British business. | “This is like the jailer has accidentally left the door of the jail open and people can see the sunlit land beyond. And everybody is suddenly wrangling about the terrors of the world outside. Actually it would be wonderful. It would be a huge weight lifted from British business. |
| Related: The Brexit campaign has divided the nation’s plonkers – so now where do I stand? | Tim Jonze | Related: The Brexit campaign has divided the nation’s plonkers – so now where do I stand? | Tim Jonze |
| “It is very sad that someone like John Longworth, who shares my view, who has great experience of British business and industry, should have paid quite a heavy price, it seems, for sharing that optimistic view.” | “It is very sad that someone like John Longworth, who shares my view, who has great experience of British business and industry, should have paid quite a heavy price, it seems, for sharing that optimistic view.” |
| Liam Fox, a former Conservative cabinet minister, suggested he could ask questions in parliament to find out if ministers had a role. | Liam Fox, a former Conservative cabinet minister, suggested he could ask questions in parliament to find out if ministers had a role. |
| He told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics: “I want an explanation as to what happened and I want to know if any part of government – not just Number 10, any part of government – was involved in putting pressure on the BCC to drop John Longworth because I think that is inappropriate and I think if we don’t get enough explanation we’ll have to get a better one on the floor of the House of Commons.” | He told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics: “I want an explanation as to what happened and I want to know if any part of government – not just Number 10, any part of government – was involved in putting pressure on the BCC to drop John Longworth because I think that is inappropriate and I think if we don’t get enough explanation we’ll have to get a better one on the floor of the House of Commons.” |
| The business secretary, Sajid Javid, and the chancellor, George Osborne, spoke at the BCC conference where Longworth made his controversial speech. | The business secretary, Sajid Javid, and the chancellor, George Osborne, spoke at the BCC conference where Longworth made his controversial speech. |
| A spokesman for the prime minister said: “Given that 60% of BCC members say they want to stay in the EU, No 10 was surprised to see the director general of the organisation come out for Brexit. | A spokesman for the prime minister said: “Given that 60% of BCC members say they want to stay in the EU, No 10 was surprised to see the director general of the organisation come out for Brexit. |
| “We are clear no pressure was put on the BCC to suspend him. Of course No 10 talks to business organisations regularly – but, to be clear: no pressure was applied. This decision is entirely a matter for the BCC.” | “We are clear no pressure was put on the BCC to suspend him. Of course No 10 talks to business organisations regularly – but, to be clear: no pressure was applied. This decision is entirely a matter for the BCC.” |
| The BCC, which represents thousands of firms employing 5 million workers, isn’t the only business group struggling to represent a balanced picture of members’ views on the upcoming referendum. Anti-EU protestors at a CBI conference in November heckled and held up a banner saying “CBI=Voice of Brussels”, after the business lobby group appeared to take a pro-EU stance. A recent survey of BCC members suggested that two thirds reject a Brexit. | The BCC, which represents thousands of firms employing 5 million workers, isn’t the only business group struggling to represent a balanced picture of members’ views on the upcoming referendum. Anti-EU protestors at a CBI conference in November heckled and held up a banner saying “CBI=Voice of Brussels”, after the business lobby group appeared to take a pro-EU stance. A recent survey of BCC members suggested that two thirds reject a Brexit. |