British expats living in EU launch Brexit legal challenge

UK expats based in Spain, France and Italy claim the Brexit referendum was unconstitutional

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A pro-EU advocacy group, called UK in EU Challenge, has submitted a judicial review to the high court in London, arguing the Brexit leave campaign broke electoral laws and this therefore made the vote unconstitutional.

In a statement on the groups website, it said: “Recent revelations show beyond reasonable doubt that the Leave campaign cheated in Brexit referendum.”

The statement adds the Electoral Commission found “beyond reasonable doubt” that Vote Leave, the official campaign, cheated on its spending limit by almost £700,000 (6%).

“In a general election, local authority election or local authority referendum the courts can declare the vote null and void if there has been cheating of exactly this type,” the statement said.

The case is being presented by Croft Solicitors, who argue that prime minister Theresa May’s decision to trigger article 50 was not in line with the nation’s “constitutional requirements”.

Government resists

Elinore Grayson, a member of the group bringing the claim, said: “It is fundamental that illegal intervention in British elections does not go unchecked.”

According to a report in The Guardian, the government is resisting the action on the basis that it is out of time and similar challenges have already been dismissed.

Crofts Solicitors maintain the claim is not out of time as in July the Electoral Commission found BeLeave had spent £675,00 (€756,457, $860,980), which should have been declared.

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