"Given that I think it's very likely that it will be very biased and hysterical warning unnecessarily about the risks of leaving the EU, I think it's a complete waste of money," Johnson said in an interview with the BBC broadcaster late Wednesday.
Anticipating backlash from Leave campaigners for using budget funds to sway public opinion in favor of retaining EU membership, Environment Secretary Liz Truss said in Wednesday’s statement that publications of this sort were "entirely lawful."
The leaflet will set out the advantages of a vote to stay in the 28-nation bloc while describing some of the choices Britain would face if it were to leave. It will claim, for instance, that the "resulting economic shock" would put pressure on the national currency and possibly increase prices of some household goods.
The No campaign will also be given public funds by the Electoral Commission to deliver a leaflet of its own to every household in the United Kingdom. British media estimates the Remain campaign has an equivalent of $46.4 million as compared with $25.3 million at the disposal of the Leave camp.
The UK public holds the so-called Brexit referendum on June 23.
