UK lawmaker swaps sides in EU vote, says 'leave' side lying

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks during a Labour party 'Vote Remain' campaign event, at The Shard in London Thursday June 9, 2016. The referendum on Britain's membership of the EU will take place on Thursday June 23. (Dominic Lipinski PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT (The Associated Press)

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Former British prime ministers Sir John Major, left, and Tony Blair share a platform for the Remain campaign at the University of Ulster in Londonderry. Northern Ireland, Thursday June 9, 2016. Britain's referendum on EU membership will take place on Thursday June 23. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT (The Associated Press)

LONDON – A respected Conservative lawmaker says she's switched sides in Britain's European Union debate and now supports staying in the bloc because she says the "leave" side has been lying about how much money Britain pays the EU.

Sarah Wollaston, a doctor who heads the House of Commons health committee, says a claim that Britain sends the EU 350 million pounds ($505 million) a week is "a financial lie."

The figure does not include Britain's rebates. The net U.K. contribution is about half that.

The "leave" group has emblazoned the figure on its campaign bus and claims leaving the EU would mean the money could be spent on Britain's overburdened National Health Service.

Wollaston said Thursday it's "shameful" to build a campaign on deceit, and leaving the EU would cause "economic turmoil."