Brexit: CPS examines claim Leave campaigns '˜misled voters

Vote Leave campainers. Picture: John Dvelin

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is considering a complaint that voters were misled by the Vote Leave and Leave.EU campaigns in breach of electoral law.

The complaint was submitted by an independent group led by Professor Bob Watt, an expert in electoral law at the University of Buckingham, The Guardian reported.

A CPS spokesman said: “We can confirm that this letter has been received and we are currently considering its content.”

The complaint about “undue influence” on the referendum campaign is said to centre on allegations that the leave campaigns made “assertions of fact that were knowingly misleading” - including the high-profile claim that the EU was costing the UK £350 million a week.

Normally, the police have to lodge a complaint before the CPS can consider it, but under the Representation of the People Act 1983, the director of public prosecutions can consider alleged election offences which are referred directly to the CPS.