Tory leadership favourite Boris Johnson faces court over Brexit claims

Boris Johnson leaves his home in London
Boris Johnson leaves his home in London Copyright REUTERS
Copyright REUTERS
By Luke Hurst with Reuters
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

The former foreign secretary has been ordered to attend court to face allegations he misled the public in the run up to the 2016 referendum.

ADVERTISEMENT

Former UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson has been ordered to attend court to answer accusations that he lied to the public in the run-up to the EU referendum in 2016.

A key figure in the Leave campaign, Johnson was ordered by District Judge Margot Coleman to attend a preliminary hearing following a crowd-funded private prosecution against him.

Boris Johnson is one of the favourites to replace Theresa May as prime minister after she announced she would resign following her failure to secure support in Parliament for her Withdrawal Agreement which would take the UK out of the EU.

In a written ruling at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the judge said: "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."

"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."

Johnson's spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Read more

What is Boris Johnson's view on Brexit?

Raw Moment: Boris Johnson gets up close and personal with Saba the cheetah

Who is favourite to replace Theresa May as UK prime minister?

More on this topic

Share this articleComments

You might also like

'They're all pretty awful prospects' - Scotland's Sturgeon on Tory candidates

Boris Johnson favourite in race to be new Conservative Party leader

What is Boris Johnson's view on Brexit?