Head Of B C C Suspended Over Brexit Views

[ChillDoubt]

Apparently, the head of the British Chamber of Commerce believes we're better off out of the EU and has been gagged. Why would that be then?


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

[Togo]

//Last month a poll of its members found that 59.5% of BCC companies preferred to remain in the EU//
That is in the link provided in op.

//However, a recent survey by the BCC found 60 per cent of its members would vote to stay in the EU, with 30 per cent voting to leave and 10 per cent undecided.//
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-british-chamber-of-commerce-boss-suspended-over-brexit-comments-a6913636.html

Further examples readily available. Not looking or must try harder?
Membership 'organisation' representing themselves only perhaps.

[Gromit]

Togo,

The charge was that they were crowing about being in favour of Staying earlier this week. You have just linked to the suspension story from yesterday that we are discussing.

[DTCwordfan]

the man was a berk, plain and simple, he knew the rule and probably even set it.

[Peter Pedant]

They havent chopped his head off ( yet) Chilldo

Mr Ecks or whoever he is = is expressing a personal view and is entitled to them but is also head of the BCC whch doesnt have a view so he should not be brexiting but he should be saying " the view of the BCC is.... "


and here we have Prof Julain Bion saying doctors such as himself shouldnt have very large pensions
http://www.hospitaldr.co.uk/blogs/dr-blogs/one-deans-backlash-against-bma-pension-ballot
but hold on he writes as Dean of a Faculty ( wears red dress and funny hat internittently ) which didnt have that view at all
ALSO he had a very large pension himself ( like you know really god humungous ) and was writing on behalf of his colleagues and their pensions and not himself.


so people should have personal views and those of their org and keep the two if necessary separate.

[Togo]

He did, he stressed that he was speaking in a personal capacity at their very own annual conference.

[jourdain2]

IF, as Togo, says, he stressed that he was speaking in a personal capacity then this gagging is immoral, anti-libertarian bullying. TBH that seems to be the tactic emanating from 'Dave's Gang'.

[Gromit]

A personal view should be expressed when he was not acting in an official capacity. He can express his personal view in the bar, or one to one with delegates. That is perfectly fine.
When he is on stage, in front of thousands of delegates, he is representing BCC and should not be giving his personal views.

[Togo]

The opposite view would, of course, have been....... shall we say tolerated.

[Togo]

//When it comes to how individual businesspeople will vote in a forthcoming referendum, 60% would vote to remain, down slightly from 63% in September, and 30% would vote to leave – up slightly from 27%.
The BCC’s data on voting intentions shows a business community divided based on size and export interests. Those representing large firms are significantly more likely to vote ‘Remain’ than those in small and micro-businesses. Firms’ international orientation is also a major factor, with opinion varying based on whether and where firms export.//

That is an excerpt from the BCC's press release, regarding a survey conducted in the week leading up to Feb 4th 2016, and broadcast on 17th Feb. Do keep up. I have a full membership list which is interesting.

http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/bcc-business-voting-intentions-harden-as-pm-seeks-final-deal.html

[Gromit]

Publishing the results of a consultation of their members is not taking sides. They have not campaigned to for the STAY side. They have not said the organisation supports being in the EU.
Which is why they had to suspend the head of the organisation when he started doing that for brexit.
He was representing the organisation when he was on stage, so he was out of line.
Some brexiters are too defensive and think everything is a conspiracy. There isn't one in this instance.

[Togo]

They didn't just release the results to members only though did they? The whole of the remain slaves to the EUSSR campaign is based on selective information and skewed statistics to suit the few eventual beneficiaries.

[Gromit]

Togo,
The BCC are not a secret society. There is no reason a survey of their members should be secret. And whatever way that survey falls does not mean the whole organisation has to fall behind that result. They seem precious about not taking sides.
Of course you can' t please everyone, and the serially victimised europhobes see a sinister hand everywhere, even when their isn't one.

[Gromit]

* there * isn't one.

[ChillDoubt]

Boris weighs in at 'scandalous' suspension as Number 10 deny any involvement:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35738541

[Togo]

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnsons-fury-over-eu-bullying-scandal/ar-BBqnLLD?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=edgsp

More here. Perhaps Gromit thinks Boris is paranoid. Haha, the longer it goes the more we discover about the lies being peddled.

[Peter Pedant]

// He wasn't suspended for campaigning for brexit. He wasn't campaigning at all. he was expressing a personal view at a private meeting.//

er well it has become pretty public hasnt it ?

BCC is split 60-40 and his published views qua head of BCC should reflect that

[Peter Pedant]

// He did, he stressed that he was speaking in a personal capacity at their very own annual conference.//

having been to a few of these awful things ( annual conferences ) it is very very difficult to do that ( speak personally when you are head )

that alone ( oh I am head of XYZ and I think the policy of XYZ is really crap but I am speaking personally of course hey everybody ) would make me go to him aferwards and tell him it is time to go

and you know what they say? O there is a role for me as roving ambassador for XYZ with a title and lovely large travel allowance .....

[Togo]

"It is absolutely scandalous that John Longworth has been forced to step aside," Mr Johnson said.
In a thinly veiled attack on Downing Street, he said it was wrong for a dissenting voice to have been "crushed by the agents of Project Fear".
"This is a man who reached the conclusion - after long reflection and a lifetime's experience of business - that it would be better to Vote Leave.
"His verdict reflects the reality that the EU has changed out of all recognition from the Common Market that this country joined. He speaks for the many small and medium-sized businesses - the lifeblood of the economy - who cannot understand why they should comply with more and more regulation, over which this country has no democratic control.
"The British public deserve to have the facts put before them. They deserve a proper debate.''

Hear hear.

[Peter Pedant]

hear hear should be ha ha

Boris old etonian and establishment figure is railing against the Establishment ( that would be people like him - for anyone slow at reading ) gagging someone who disagrees ....

and Boris - man of the people and voice of dissent is an anti-establishment figure is looking back on his career as mayor ( establishment ) and looking forward to a career as an MP ( establishment ) and possibly erm prime minister ( establishment )

doesnt anyone's irony klaxon go blaaaarp ?

[Peter Pedant]

// the EUSSR campaign is based on selective information and skewed statistics to suit the few eventual beneficiaries.//

togo he thay the truth !

who was it who said: " I only believe statistics if I have had a chance to manipulate them myself "

I volunteered honecke the last east german president and a german said: " no it was his economics minister "


so well spotted Togo

it was in connection with the announcement that the East German GDP had exceeded the UK's and people said - well it is possible..... ( it was nt ... possible )