A crowdfunding campaign attempting to have Boris Johnson prosecuted for his lies about Brexit will receive a hearing in court later this month.
The Brexit Justice campaign alleges Mr Johnson abused public trust by intentionally misleading voters over his claim Britain pays £350m a week to the European Union.
The former foreign secretary has previously been warned by the UK’s official statistics watchdog the figure, which was infamously emblazoned on the side of a Brexit campaign bus, is a misuse of public statistics.
Mr Johnson’s case will receive its first private hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on 14 May, where the campaign hopes it will proceed to trial on criminal charges for misconduct in public office an offence carrying a potential prison sentence.
Mr Johnson has previously defended his use of the figure.
Earlier this year he told The Guardian There was an error on the side of the bus. We grossly underestimated the sum over which we would be able to take back control.
As and when the cash becomes available and it won’t until we leave the NHS should be at the very top of the list. Mr Johnson has been contacted for comment.
Since its launch last year, thousands of backers have donated more than £370,000, while celebrities such as Sir Alan Sugar and Paloma Faith have tweeted their support.
This is because society and public trust cannot function based upon false information. So, why shouldn’t a politician be prosecuted for abusing public trust by lying about public spending figures?
Jean-Claude Juncker says it was a mistake for EU to stay silent during Brexit referendum lies.
The 29-year-old, who revealed he has been working on the prosecution for three years, said the world first case was an attempt to make it illegal for MPs to lie to the public about financial matters.
This would be the beginning of the end of lying in politics in the UK, he added.