The head of one of Britain’s biggest business organisations was suspended last night after speaking out in favour of Brexit.
In an extraordinary move, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) informed members that its director-general John Longworth had been suspended after calling for Britain to leave the EU.
Mr Longworth spoke out on Thursday at the organisation’s annual conference in London.
Stressing that he was speaking in a personal capacity, he criticised David Cameron’s deal with Brussels, saying the EU remained ‘essentially unreformed’ and was ‘incapable of reform’.
The British Chambers of Commerce has informed members that its director-general John Longworth, pictured, had been suspended after calling for Britain to leave the EU
In his platform speech, Mr Longworth said the UK could create a ‘brighter economic future for itself’ outside the EU.
The long-term risks of staying in the EU were ‘likely to be as daunting as the short-term risks of leaving,’ he added. He later told reporters that it was his personal assessment that Britain should leave the EU.
‘With the reforms we have received so far, the UK would be better off taking a decision to leave the European Union,’ he said.
His intervention undermined Downing Street’s efforts to portray the entire business community as being in favour of continued EU membership.
Ukip MP Douglas Carswell last night described Mr Longworth’s suspension as ‘outrageous and chilling’. Mr Carswell called on the Prime Minister to condemn the move. He added: ‘This is an outrageous decision.
‘It shows that we are not just dealing with Project Fear, the Establishment is also prepared to bully and intimidate people to try to silence them.
How can it possibly be acceptable for the BCC to treat this man like this, and suspend him for giving his personal view in a personal capacity? Instead of bullying and suspending him, they should try to counter what he said.
‘I hope now that David Cameron will distance himself from this and make it clear that this sort of action is unacceptable.’
And last night former Tory Cabinet minister John Redwood described Mr Longworth’s intervention as ‘wise and measured’, adding: ‘He should not be suspended.’
The BCC, which represents 75,000 small and medium-sized firms, has formally adopted a neutral position on the referendum.
A recent survey by the BCC of 2,000 of its members found 60 per cent would vote to stay in the EU, while only 30 per cent would vote for the ‘Out’ camp, with 10 per cent undecided.
Mr Longworth, pictured, spoke out on Thursday at the organisation’s annual conference in London
Mr Longworth’s intervention angered some pro-Brussels members of the organisation. Phil Smith, managing director of Business West, the UK’s largest chamber in the BCC, said he was ‘appalled’ by Mr Longworth’s ‘very public’ recommendation that Britain should leave the EU – and said he had no ‘mandate’ for his comments.
‘Chambers up and down the country are carefully listening to their members’ views and ensuring that we properly represent our business community in this very important and complicated issue,’ Mr Smith told the Financial Times.
Richard Swart, a member of the north-east chamber, described the interviews as a ‘dereliction of duty to most members’ views’.
The British Chambers of Commerce declined to comment last night, but it is thought Mr Longworth’s suspension is temporary. Mr Longworth could not be contacted for comment.
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét