He was the director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce from September 2011 until March 2016, when he departed in controversy by breaking with the organisation's line on Brexit on the day of its conference.

John Longworth was born in May 1958[3] and was educated at Smithills School, Bolton, and the University of Salford, where he obtained bachelor's and master's degrees.

A media commentator and writer, he now advises organisations in the financial sector and others and is on the Advisory Councils of Hottinger Group, the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Advisory Board of Economists for Free Trade.

[citation needed][6] In March 2016, he became the only leader of a major business group, the BCC, to back leaving the EU.

Since this went against the position the BCC and its members had agreed to take on the referendum he was suspended as Director General.