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A leading European Union and British constitutional law expert from the University of Liverpool has accused the EU Referendum Leave campaign of “dishonesty on an industrial scale”.

Professor Michael Dougan of the university’s law school made the claim in a lecture he delivered to academic staff earlier this week, the video of which has been posted online.

In the lecture, Prof Dougan says the Leave campaign has created myths about sovereignty, the single market and immigration that, he says, have no basis in fact.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's referendum, Prof Dougan, who has been an advisor to the Cabinet Office and provided evidence to Parliamentary Committees, said: “It’s in the national interest to remain what we are now, which is one of the leading powers within one of the most important international organisations on the planet.”

He added: “Although the Remain campaign hasn’t exactly covered themselves in glory at points with their use of dodgy statistics, I think the Leave campaign has degenerated into dishonesty on an industrial scale.”

Referring to what he calls the Leave campaign’s “myths”, Prof Dougan said: “For someone who works in the field like I do, It’s probably the equivalent of an evolutionary biologist listening to a bunch of creationists tell the public that creation theory is right and evolution is completely wrong - it really is that bad for someone who actually is a professional researcher in the field. And yet it is working.”

In the video, Prof Dougan asserts that the UK has not ceded any sovereignty to Brussels. He says: “There is no doubt whatsoever that the United Kingdom is a sovereign state under international law. There is no doubt whatsoever that the Parliament in Westminster is the supreme lawmaking authority in this country. Conversely, there is no doubt whatsoever that the EU is not a sovereign entity.

"It has only those powers which it’s been given under the EU treaties. And if the UK courts sometimes give priority to EU law in the event of a conflict with domestic law, it’s purely because our Parliament has expressly instructed them to do so in our own legislation.”

He explained: “It’s very basic EU and constitutional law, and it’s amazing the national debate has been so distorted in the way that is has.”

Speaking separately to the ECHO, Prof Dougan added: “The idea that foreigners have stolen our country and we must get it back is just complete rubbish.”

Referring to Britain’s existing EU membership arrangements, which allow the UK to opt out of the Euro and the EU’s open borders policy, Prof Dougan said: “We have an incredibly good deal.

“We already have a very special status that is much more advantageous than any other existing member state.”