Kemi Badenoch has given her full backing to her shadow attorney general amid claims he has a conflict of interest over the sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
Labour stepped up their criticism of Lord Wolfson who is representing the former Chelsea owner at the same time as holding a Conservative front bench position.
But a Conservative party source said the Tory leader has full confidence in Wolfson and accused the Prime Minister and his Attorney General of having their own questionable legal records.
On Wednesday Justice Minister Jake Richards called on the Tories to address “unanswered questions” about Wolfson acting as one of the barristers for Abramovich, who was sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lord Wolfson, the Conservative shadow attorney general, is part of the legal team representing the former owner of Chelsea Football Club in his court battle with the Jersey government (Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire)In a letter to Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, Richards asked how it was “tenable for Lord Wolfson as shadow attorney general to be advising the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow cabinet, on issues relating to Russia, while he continues to represent a sanctioned Russian oligarch”.
Richards claimed that the public would “draw its own conclusions” from “your and Kemi Badenoch’s decision to evade” questions about the frontbencher’s role.
Abramovich is caught up in a legal battle with the Jersey government after it launched an investigation into the source of more than £5.3 billion in assets linked to him, which have been held since he was sanctioned.
The justice minister has claimed the case is delaying the release of funds from the Russian oligarch’s sale of Chelsea FC, which the UK Government wants to see used to help rebuild Ukraine after the war ends.
It emerged earlier this week that Wolfson, a KC, is part of the legal team representing Abramovich in his court case.
The “cab rank” rule means that barristers must take on any case within their field of expertise regardless of the client. But Richards said that where perceived conflicts of interest arose, lawyers, including those who were politicians, had to take steps to eliminate them.
Badenoch has “full confidence” in her shadow attorney general, a Conservative source said, adding: “The rank hypocrisy is staggering. The actual Attorney General, Richard Hermer, has represented Gerry Adams, a terrorist plotting an attack on Manchester, and countless other al-Qaeda and ISIS-aligned criminals. And that’s before we get to Keir Starmer’s chequered legal record.
“This is a desperate and pathetic attack on Lord Wolfson, who is currently acting pro bono for brave British veterans against spurious legal claims, veterans Labour has repeatedly abandoned.
“Jake Richards should stop using this issue to push himself up the pecking order to replace Keir Starmer and start doing his actual job.”
In a letter to Richards on Tuesday, Burghart told the minister that the Jersey proceedings had “nothing to do with the donation of the Chelsea sale proceeds, and does not involve the UK Government”.
“To suggest otherwise is wrong, and you should correct the record,” he said.
The Tory frontbencher said the Conservatives want the Chelsea proceeds released quickly and should “reach their intended recipients lawfully and without delay”.
“I am confident that at all times Lord Wolfson has acted in accordance with his professional obligations and with integrity.”
In his reply to Burghart, Richards said: “Thank you for your letter of December 30, which does not deny that Lord Wolfson is representing Roman Abramovich, despite for some reason not mentioning Mr Abramovich’s name.
“Perhaps you are embarrassed that a frontbench colleague is working for Mr Abramovich alongside his political role. I can understand why.”
He added: “However, your letter does not address many of the serious questions raised, namely how it is tenable for Lord Wolfson as shadow attorney general to be advising the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow cabinet, on issues relating to Russia, while he continues to represent a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
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“I am therefore asking them again now. They remain of significant public interest, and the public will draw its own conclusions from yours and Kemi Badenoch’s decision to evade them so far.”
In light of the Conservative position that the Chelsea proceeds should be released quickly, Richards asked for Lord Wolfson to confirm that “Mr Abramovich should transfer the money without delay”.
“If Mr Abramovich refuses, will he cease to represent him?” Richards asked.
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