The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Prosecutors examine claims that Leave campaigns ‘misled’ voters
The Crown Prosecution Service is considering a complaint that voters in the EU referendum were misled by the Vote Leave and Leave.EU campaigns in breach of electoral law.
The allegations against the two campaigns were lodged with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Alison Saunders by a group of lawyers and ordinary citizens backed by Professor Bob Watt, an expert in electoral law at Buckingham University.
If successful it could see charges brought against leading Leave campaigners with the prospect of up to a year’s imprisonment if they are found guilty.
A CPS spokesman said: “We can confirm that this letter has been received and we are currently considering its content.”
Prof Watt said Ms Saunders had now referred the matter to the CPS’s electoral law team to investigate.
The complaint alleges that claims made by the Leave campaigns constituted “fraudulent devices or contrivances” under election law.
They include the high-profile claim – featured on Boris Johnson’s Vote Leave battlebus – that the EU was costing the UK £350 million a week as well as the suggestion that Turkey was about to join the EU.
Other alleged “fraudulent devices” include misrepresentation of businesses and individuals as having supported Leave when they did not, as well as leaflets and websites which the group argues were intentionally designed to trick voters.
Normally the police have to lodge a complaint before the CPS can consider a complaint, but under the Representation of the People Act 1983, the DPP can consider alleged election offences which are referred directly to the CPS.
Prof Watt said it would now be up to the CPS to determine who – if anyone – should face charges over the allegations.
We can confirm that this letter has been received and we are currently considering its content. CPS SPOKESMAN