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Boris Johnson will be summonsed to court over his claims UK sends £350m a week to EU

Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson speaks to Vote Leave campaigners as he boards the Vote Leave campaign bus in Truro, Cornwall, ahead of its inaugural journey which will criss-cross the country over the coming weeks to take the Brexit message to all corners of the UK before the June 23 referendum.
A private prosecution has been brought against Mr Johnson over the claims the UK gave the EU £350m a week. (PA)

Boris Johnson will be summonsed to court to face accusations of misconduct in public office over claims he was lying when he said the UK gave the EU £350 million a week.

The favourite to win the Tory leadership race faces a private prosecution by campaigner Marcus Ball.

Lawyers representing Mr Ball lodged an application to summons Mr Johnson to court, claiming he had deliberately misled the public during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016 and then repeated the statement during the 2017 general election.

In a written decision, District Judge Margot Coleman said Mr Johnson will be summonsed to court.

The Vote Leave campaign bus is parked in Truro, Cornwall, ahead of its inaugural journey which will criss-cross the country over the coming weeks to take the Brexit message to all corners of the UK before the June 23 referendum.
The Vote Leave campaign bus is parked in Truro, Cornwall, ahead of its inaugural journey which will criss-cross the country over the coming weeks to take the Brexit message to all corners of the UK before the June 23 referendum.

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She wrote: "The allegations which have been made are unproven accusations and I do not make any findings of fact.

"Having considered all the relevant factors I am satisfied that this is a proper case to issue the summons as requested for the three offences as drafted. The charges are indictable only.

"This means the proposed defendant will be required to attend this court for a preliminary hearing, and the case will then be sent to the Crown Court for trial.

"The charges can only be dealt with in the Crown Court."

Mr Ball has raised more than £200,000 through a 'Brexit Justice' crowdfunding campaign to pay for the private prosecution.

The decision to summons the former foreign secretary was criticised by Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who said it was a “troubling” abuse of process.

He said: “It is trying to use the courts to achieve a political end which, I think, is neither right or proper. This is involving the courts in something that is not their area.

“We need courts and politicians to respect each other, and it is an abuse of process, and a troubling one. It has been brought by people who are resentful of the referendum result.”

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