The director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, John Longworth, has resigned after being suspended for saying the UK's long-term prospects could be "brighter" outside the EU.
The BCC said Mr Longworth had accepted his support for leaving the EU was "likely to create confusion".
He revealed his support for "Brexit" at the BCC annual conference on Thursday.
The BCC said Mr Longworth had breached the group's official position of neutrality on the referendum.
BCC
president Nora Senior said the organisation was "non-partisan" and had
decided not to campaign for either side in the forthcoming UK referendum
on EU membership.
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."
She stressed that his resignation was "agreed mutually between Mr Longworth and the BCC Board, and there were no external factors involved".
'Tough choice'
At the conference, Mr Longworth said the EU referendum was a choice between the "devil and the deep blue sea".
He added that voters faced "undoubtedly a tough choice".
One option was staying in an "essentially unreformed EU", with the other being the uncertainty of leaving.
He
said the very best place for the UK to be was in a reformed EU, but
added: "I have come to the conclusion that the EU is incapable of
meaningful reform, at least in the foreseeable future."
He said his comments had been made in a personal capacity.
His remarks and his subsequent suspension prompted a political outcry, with London mayor Boris Johnson and former defence secretary Liam Fox, both prominent campaigners for the UK to leave the EU, weighing in on his behalf.
Mr Johnson called Mr Longworth's
treatment "scandalous", while Mr Fox said ministers should clarify "if
they were involved in any way in putting pressure on" the BCC to suspend
Mr Longworth.
Who is John Longworth?
Appointed BCC director general in 2011
- Has worked for big names, including Tesco and Asda
- Has held non-executive director positions at the Co-operative Food Group and drinks company Nichols
- Has been on the Competition Commission panel
- Has served as a consultant to Barts Hospital Trust
- Founded SVA, a science research firm
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