- Aug 21, 2016
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Boris Johnson is facing three allegations of “misconduct in public office” relating to his claims during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign and the lead up to the 2017 general election that he repeatedly “lied and misled the British public” by claiming that the cost to the UK of EU membership was £350 million a week. The case is a private prosecution by Marcus Ball who raised more than £250,000 in crowdfunding pledges to pay for his “Brexit Justice” campaign.
District judge Margot Coleman has ruled there is a prima facie case. The court will hold a preliminary hearing and the case will then be sent to the crown court for trial. The maximum sentence for such a crime is life imprisonment.
If the case succeeds I think it would set a very damaging precedent. Politicians have a long history of being economic with the truth, and the public is very wise to it. But if political opponents start taking each other to court for alleged mistruths there would be an endless stream of court cases. How many treasurers have promised a budget surplus that never happened? These matters belong in the cut and thrust of political debate not the courts.
The timing and motivation of this private prosecution is suspect given that Theresa May has resigned and Boris Johnson is vying for leadership with a view on a Brexit that the complainant opposes.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe...-campaign-lie-be-a-crime-20190530-p51sks.html
https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/marcus-ball-v-alexander-boris-de-pfeffel-johnson/
District judge Margot Coleman has ruled there is a prima facie case. The court will hold a preliminary hearing and the case will then be sent to the crown court for trial. The maximum sentence for such a crime is life imprisonment.
If the case succeeds I think it would set a very damaging precedent. Politicians have a long history of being economic with the truth, and the public is very wise to it. But if political opponents start taking each other to court for alleged mistruths there would be an endless stream of court cases. How many treasurers have promised a budget surplus that never happened? These matters belong in the cut and thrust of political debate not the courts.
The timing and motivation of this private prosecution is suspect given that Theresa May has resigned and Boris Johnson is vying for leadership with a view on a Brexit that the complainant opposes.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe...-campaign-lie-be-a-crime-20190530-p51sks.html
https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/marcus-ball-v-alexander-boris-de-pfeffel-johnson/