Boris Johnson has reportedly launched a bid to quash an attempt to summon him to court to face claims of misconduct in public office after he was accused of “lying” in the EU referendum.
Mr Johnson has lodged an application for a judicial review over a decision to summons him to court the campaigner who brought the prosecution against him has said.
Marcus Ball said Mr Johnson’s legal team was seeking an order that it was unlawful for Westminster Magistrates’ Court to issue the summons against the former foreign secretary, and to suspend the criminal proceedings against him until the application for judicial review was determined.
Mr Ball said he was named an “interested party” in the application and would oppose the order.The Tory leadership frontrunner faces a Crown Court trial over the bombshell claims as part of a long-running private prosecution bid.
(Image: PA)
The legal case has been pursued for almost three years by 29-year-old ‘Brexit Justice’ campaigner Mr Ball, who has crowdfunded more than £230,000.
Court papers show Mr Ball claims Mr Johnson “repeatedly lied and misled the British public” when he said EU membership cost £350million a week.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week granted Mr Ball’s application to issue a summons for the Tory MP to appear in court.
But Mr Johnson lawyers have branded the prosecution a “stunt” brought “for political purposes”, and denied misconduct – is not being charged by the state with a criminal offence.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson last night declined to comment.
