Former foreign minister Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to replace Theresa May as Britain’s prime minister, on Friday challenged a lawsuit accusing him of knowingly lying during the Brexit referendum campaign.
Lawyers for Johnson, who leads a crowded field of contenders vying to be Conservative Party leader after May formally resigns today, claimed in court that the private prosecution is “politically motivated and vexatious”.
The MP, who was not present, wants London’s High Court to throw out a judge’s decision last month to allow a summons ordering him to appear in court over allegations of misconduct in public office.
His lawyers argued the lower court’s ruling had “erred in law” and that the attempt to prosecute the ex-London mayor was political.
“The only rational conclusion which could be reached was that the prosecution was politically motivated and, therefore, vexatious,” Adrian Darbishire told two High Court judges hearing the challenge.
The case, brought by businessman Marcus Ball in a crowd-funded initiative, concerns Johnson’s claim that Britain sends £350 million (€400 million) a week to the European Union.
While this was Britain’s gross contribution, the net figure…
