Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson has claimed those campaigning to stay in the European Union are "rattled", after the Treasury warned that a Brexit couldcause the country to fall into recession. The Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP was speaking at a Vote Leave rally in York on 23 May.

More from IBTimes UK

Prime Minister David Cameron and four former heads of major high street retailers have claimed that leaving the European Union (EU) would drive up household bills and risk jobs.

Johnson said: "I think that they are rattled on the Remain side of the campaign because they are putting out more propaganda than we've at any time since 1992 when they said that we couldn't leave the European Exchange Rate Mechanism – do you remember that?

"They said it would be a disaster, they said that interest rates would go up, they said it would be an economic catastrophe for this country if we left the European Exchange Rate Mechanism – that's what the Treasury said. And what happened? It was a liberation for this economy".

Earlier in the day, prime minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne claimed that leaving the EU could lead to recession and widespread job losses in the UK. The chancellor said: "Every part of country suffered and the British people have worked so hard to get our country back on track. Do we want to throw it all away? Can we knowingly vote for a recession? Does Britain really want this DIY recession?"

The Treasury released an analysis of the short term risks of the UK leaving the EU on 23 May. It claimed that the economy could be as much as 6% smaller, and up to 800,000 jobs could be lost if the country votes for a Brexit on 23 June.

EU Referendum Brexit David Cameron