[Osem]

The director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce has been suspended over his personal views on Brexit, according to the Financial Times.

John Longworth told the BCC's annual conference on Thursday that the UK's long-term prospects could be "brighter" outside the EU.

The BCC's official line is that it will not campaign for either side as its membership is split.

The BCC said it had no comment.

The Financial Times reported the group held an emergency meeting to discuss how to reconcile the difference in views between Mr Longworth and many BCC members on EU membership.

Members were later told Mr Longworth had been temporarily suspended for breaching the group's official position of neutrality, the paper added.

Mr Longworth had described the referendum as a choice between the "devil and the deep blue sea".

One option was staying in an "essentially unreformed EU", with the other being the uncertainty of leaving, he told the conference.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35732291