Boss: I quit voluntarily

A BUSINESS leader who quit his post in a row over backing Brexit insisted yesterday he was not forced out despite claims by anti- EU campaigners that he was the victim of a Government “witch- hunt”.

John Longworth said he “voluntarily resigned” as director general of the British Chambers of Commerce “in order to have the freedom to express myself on the referendum”.

He stepped down on Sunday after the BCC board suspended him for defying the group’s neutral stance by telling its conference on Thursday the UK could have a “brighter” future outside the EU.