British PM candidate Boris Johnson to face court over Brexit claims

Boris Johnson, considered a favourite in the race to replace Theresa May as British prime minister, must appear in court over allegations he lied to the public about Brexit, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

The judge at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court ruled Johnson, the former foreign secretary and ex-London mayor, must answer a private summons alleging he had committed three offences of misconduct in a public office.

These relate to claims Johnson made in the run-up to and aftermath of the 2016 European Union referendum when he was one of the leading campaigners for Britain to leave the bloc. Britons voted 52 per cent to 48 per centto leave.

"During both time periods outlined above, the [proposed] defendant repeatedly lied and misled the British public as to the cost of EU membership, expressly stating, endorsing or inferring that the cost of EU membership was 350 million per week," the application against Johnson said.

The 350 million [about $597,355Cdn] figure was a central and controversial part of the "Leave" campaign's "take back control" message, famously emblazoned across a campaign bus. Opponents argued it was deliberately misleading and it became symbolic of the divisions caused by the referendum.

In her written ruling, District Judge Margot Coleman said the allegations were not proven and she had made no finding of fact, but thatJohnson should face trial.

"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," Coleman said.

"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."

Polls suggest Johnson, a flamboyant politician known for his tousled blond hair, is well ahead of the other 10 declared candidates in the contest to replace May as leader of Conservative Party and prime minister.

May announced last Friday she'll step down on June 7, succumbing to calls in her partyto make way for a new leader to try to break the impasse over Britain's departure from the EU.

Johnson's spokespersonwas not immediately available for comment.

In submissions to the court, Johnson's lawyers said the application was a stunt, brought for purely political purposes.

"It is submitted that the facts alleged by the applicant do not come close to establishing a qualifying breach of duty," his lawyer argued. "None of the acts complained of took place in the course of Mr Johnson's direct parliamentary or mayoral duties, but in the course of political campaigning."