I See No Bus Behind Me. What Are You Talking About?

[douglas9401]

Could be a right laugh. :-)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48445430

[Old_Geezer]

Surely the individual bringing the case wasn't foolish enough to think it meant a cheque was posted each week ? Everyone else knows it was a weekly equivalent of the agreed payment we were to pay. The BBC had a breakdown of it on their website at the time, showing it to be true. Seems that if the DPP doesn't stop this frivolous charge then they surely run the risk that folk might conclude that they are allowing what appears to be a smear campaign at a time Boris is campaigning for the Tory leadership job. Since there is clearly no case to be tested, it's difficult to see what else might persuade them to let this continue.

[Gromit]

OF
// Since there is clearly no case to be tested, it's difficult to see what else might persuade them to let this continue. //

As for the timing, this prosecution was initiated in February, long before May jacked it all in, and before Boris decided to stand.
The timing is unfortunate, but no conspiracy.

The decision today was that their is a case to answer. This is a Magistrates Court, so no jury

[JF85]

"Seems that if the DPP doesn't stop this frivolous charge" ...

Seems to me that if the DPP intervened in this private prosecution, that would be a political use of the judiciary and contrary to its indendence.

Any private citizen can bring a prosecution at their own expense. It would not surprise me if Johnson had not threatened to bring such a case himself to prevent reporting of his dishonesty and infidelity.

[ToraToraTora]

It's kind of ironic to attempt to prosecute a politician for potentially quoting the wrong figures. When's Abacus on trial for claiming you can get 20000 plods for £1.25?

[webbo3]

And quite right, the actual figure is £363M net.
https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/10/the-350m-line-on-the-brexit-bus-was-wrong-the-real-figure-is-higher/

[Togo]

Privately funded? Crowd funded? Soros funded? Maybe we can get Bliar into court for actually speaking the lies that took us into an illegal war in Iraq even though he knew it was all a fabricated story. Will that have to be privately funded, crowd funded, or Soros funded?

[Old_Geezer]

On the contrary DPP intervention would prevent political use of the judiciary.

And it was clear May was getting more nearer and nearer to being ousted long before now.

[Ellipsis]

It was crowdfunded. The link is here:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/brexitjusticeprosecution

There's lots of other interesting background info on that page.

[Spicerack]

I hope the legal bill runs into £millions and they take everything the plaintiff owns. He won't find his backers so generous when he's of no further use.

[ToraToraTora]

I wonder if the plaintiff is aware that if the prosecution fails which it almost certainly will, the judge may well make him pay the defence costs. Even if the judge does not the defence can then sue through the civil courts for recovery of said costs plus the further costs, oh dear!

[Gromit]

// I hope the legal bill runs into £millions and they take everything the plaintiff owns. //

I can’t see it being a long case:
Exhibit A: (Photo of) buffoon stood next to a 23 TON big red bus.
Exhibit B: Bank Statement from HM Treasury.

[dannyk13]

Interesting piece on Adams here:-
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-7084115/GUY-ADAMS-man-took-24-000-fighting-fund-pay-himself.html

[mushroom25]

just wondering - if the case is allowed to proceed to its conclusion and the charges are found proven - how the legal precedent this will inevitably set will change the way political business is conducted in the UK....

[gulliver1]

If Boris gets on the Bus , he will not be asking for a workmans return ticket.

[Old_Geezer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48554853

[dannyk13]

A fair result.

[pixie374]

Very much so.

[jim360]

Bloody liberal lefty judges strike again :P

[Mamyalynne]

Sensible.