Labour criticises Tory shadow attorney general for representing Roman Abramovich
Kemi Badenoch has faced mounting pressure to act after it was revealed that her shadow attorney general was acting as Roman Abramovich’s lawyer despite the UK government sanctioning him.
Labor described his position as “indefensible”, arguing that he risked a conflict of interest with his political position.
On Monday, justice secretary Jake Richards wrote to Ms Badenoch asking whether Lord Wolfson had withdrawn from any party policy regarding the assets of Chelsea’s former owner.
He also asked the Conservative Party leader to explain whether the Opposition was in line with the government’s view that Mr Abramovich should transfer more than £2.5bn to benefit the Ukrainian people.
Meanwhile, Labor leader Anna Turley demanded to know whether Ms Badenoch was aware Lord Wolfson would represent Abramovich and urged her to make clear that “anyone representing a man who is currently under British sanctions cannot serve at the shadow cabinet table”.
A Russian businessman is embroiled in a legal battle after launching an investigation into the source of more than £5.3bn of assets linked to and held by the Jersey government.
The legal process is said to be delaying the release of funds from the sale of Chelsea FC, which Mr Abramovich wants the UK government to use to help rebuild Ukraine after the end of the war.
Ms Turley accused Ms Badenoch of “allowing her senior team to run second jobs clearly at odds with British and Ukrainian interests” and said it was “a completely irresponsible position for Her Majesty’s official opposition to be in”.
In his letter to Ms Badenoch, Mr Richards said: “The taxi rank rule (an ethical principle under which a lawyer is required to accept every case within his area of expertise, regardless of who the client is) is an important principle that must always be respected, but it cannot eliminate conflicts of interest or absolve politicians of their responsibility to avoid such conflicts.
“Lord Wolfson’s ability to advise you in relation to this matter is clearly compromised by the fact that he has been paid to act on behalf of Mr Abramovich.”
But the Conservatives said Lord Wolfson had not received instructions on the Chelsea FC matter and branded Labour’s attack “pure politics”.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Lord Wolfson has been instructed in relation to ongoing legal proceedings in Jersey. No instructions have been given in relation to the Chelsea FC matter.”
“Jake Richards’ comments are pure politics and show that Labor still do not understand how the Bar works. Lawyers act on behalf of clients, not cases.
“And this government is a bit rich. Labor must stop mudslinging. Their own attorney general acted on behalf of Gerry Adams and got involved in the Shamima Begum case. This is pure hypocrisy.
“The Conservative Party has led the way in supporting Ukraine, and we remain committed to their cause. To suggest anything other than that is to sink Labor to new depths.”
It comes just weeks after the government pressured the Russian billionaire to hand over £2.5bn from the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
The Prime Minister told MPs earlier this month that a license had been issued allowing money to be transferred to Ukrainian people suffering from the Russian occupation.
Billions of pounds worth of proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the sale in 2022, when the British government sanctioned Mr Abramovich for his close ties to Putin following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
