Kemi Badenoch is facing growing pressure to take action after it was revealed that her shadow attorney general is acting as a lawyer for Roman Abramovich, despite the UK government having sanctioned him.
The Labour Party has dubbed his position “indefensible”, arguing it risks a conflict of interest with his political position.
On Monday, justice minister Jake Richards wrote to Mrs Badenoch to ask whether Lord Wolfson had recused himself from any party policy regarding the former Chelsea owner’s assets.
He also asked the Tory leader to clarify whether the Opposition was aligned with the government position that Mr Abramovich must transfer more than £2.5bn to benefit the people of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Labour Party chair Anna Turley demanded to know whether Mrs Badenoch was aware that Lord Wolfson was due to represent Abramovich, as well as urging her to make clear that “nobody representing a man who is currently under British sanctions can serve around her shadow cabinet table”.
The Russian businessman is caught up in a legal battle with the Jersey government after it launched an investigation into the source of more than £5.3bn in assets linked to him which are held there.
The legal action is said to be delaying the release of funds from Mr Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea FC, which the UK government wants to see used to help rebuild Ukraine after the war ends.
Ms Turley accused Mrs Badenoch of “allowing her top team to moonlight second jobs that are in clear conflict with British and Ukrainian interests”, saying it was “a totally irresponsible position for His Majesty’s official opposition to be in”.
In his letter to Mrs Badenoch, Mr Richards said: “The cab rank rule (an ethical principle in which a barrister is required to accept any case in their field of expertise, regardless of who their client is) is an important principle which should always be respected, but it cannot remove conflicts of interest, or eliminate the responsibility of politicians to avoid such conflicts.
“Lord Wolfson’s ability to advise you in respect of this matter is clearly compromised by the fact that he is being paid to act on behalf of Mr Abramovich.”
But the Tories said Lord Wolfson is not instructed on the matter of Chelsea FC and branded Labour’s attack “pure politics.”
A Conservative party spokesman said: “Lord Wolfson is instructed in on-going legal proceedings in Jersey. He is not instructed on the Chelsea FC matter.
“Jake Richards’ comments are pure politics, and they show Labour still does not understand how the Bar works. Barristers act for clients, not causes.
“And it’s a bit rich from this government. Labour should stop throwing mud. Their own attorney general has acted for Gerry Adams and involved himself in the Shamima Begum case. This is rank hypocrisy.
“The Conservative Party led the way on supporting Ukraine and we remain committed to their cause. To suggest anything else is just Labour sinking to new depths.”
It comes just weeks after the government piled pressure on the Russian billionaire to hand over the £2.5bn he received from the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
The prime minister earlier this month told MPs that a licence has been issued allowing the money to be transferred to the people of Ukraine suffering at the hands of the Russian invasion.
The multi-billion-pound proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the sale in 2022, when the UK government sanctioned Mr Abramovich after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine due to his close ties with Putin.
Foreign Office probes handling of Egyptian activist case amid calls to deport him
Reform UK says Conservatives ‘cannot be trusted’ amid row over activist’s citizenship
Police apologise to MPs over Maccabi ban claims
Farage is still popular despite racism claims, poll finds
UK considered military overthrow of ‘depressingly healthy’ Robert Mugabe
Ed Miliband to invest in solar power to create ‘zero bill’ homes
