Keir Starmer criticizes Kemi Badenoch for permitting a member of Roman Abramovich’s legal team to have a prominent role in her team. The Prime Minister expressed disapproval after it was revealed that Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson is representing the former Chelsea owner, who is under scrutiny for possible contributions to help rebuild Ukraine.
Lord Wolfson has been engaged in Abramovich’s legal dispute with the Jersey government, investigating the origins of over £5.3 billion in assets linked to him held in Jersey. Abramovich argues that the asset transfer to support Ukraine should await the conclusion of the Jersey proceedings.
During a tense exchange at PMQs, Starmer urged Badenoch to acknowledge the conflict of interest in retaining Lord Wolfson in the shadow cabinet. Starmer emphasized the need for clarity on whether the party supports diverting funds from Chelsea Football Club to Ukraine, given the Attorney General’s representation of Abramovich.
Abramovich sold the club in 2022 following UK sanctions over alleged ties to Vladimir Putin post the Ukraine invasion. Funds from the sale, frozen by the Government, intended for humanitarian aid for Ukraine, are currently held in a UK bank account due to legal disputes.
In December, Starmer issued a warning to Abramovich, threatening legal action if the proceeds from the Chelsea sale are not handed over. Labour’s Justice Minister, Jake Richards, raised concerns about Lord Wolfson’s dual roles and called for his removal from the Shadow Cabinet due to potential conflicts of interest.
The Tories dismissed Labour’s accusations, stating that Lord Wolfson’s involvement is unrelated to the Chelsea FC matter and criticized Labour’s stance as politically motivated. They emphasized the independence of barristers in representing clients and urged Labour to refrain from unfounded criticisms.
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