Government lawyers have been given a two-week deadline to respond to the latest legal challenge over the legitimacy of the Brexit vote.

A judicial review has been launched by the UK in EU Challenge group, which represents Britons living in France, Italy and Spain.

It argues that the Electoral Commission’s findings on BeLeave and Vote Leave, which resulted in two officials being reported to the police and fines being imposed, mean the 2016 EU referendum was not a lawful, fair or free vote.

On Thursday, Mr Justice Warby issued a high court order requiring those representing Theresa May and the commission to submit a summary of their legal defence by 4pm on 31 August.

The order also asks the government to reply to the request for an expedited hearing “as soon as reasonably practicable”.

Warby’s order states that “the question of permission [for the case to proceed] deserves urgent consideration”.

Read full story in Guardian

The UK in EU Challenge group – whose lead claimant is Spain-based Sue Wilson – is arguing that the 2016 vote should be declared null and void due to irregularities committed by the Leave campaign

British expatriates based in the European Union have launched a legal challenge against the 2016 referendum on the United Kingdom leaving the 28-member bloc, arguing that the British government should declare the vote null and void due to “cheating” on the part of the Leave campaign.

The lead claimant in the UK in EU Challenge group is the chair of the Bremain in Spain forum, Sue Wilson, who has been campaigning constantly in the last two years against “Brexit,” as the process of the UK leaving the EU is known.

Writing in a Bremain in Spain newsletter, Wilson states that “recent findings by the Electoral Commission of illegal conduct by the Leave campaign during the 2016 EU Referendum have called into question as to whether the referendum was conducted in accordance with the UK’s constitutional requirements.”

See full story in El Pais