Labour leader Keir Starmer has criticized Kemi Badenoch for permitting a member of Roman Abramovich’s legal team to be part of her inner circle. The Prime Minister expressed his disapproval following revelations that Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson is representing the former Chelsea owner, who is under pressure to contribute £2.5 billion toward the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Lord Wolfson has been engaged in Abramovich’s legal dispute with the Jersey government, which is investigating the origins of over £5.3 billion in assets linked to him held in Jersey. Abramovich contends that the transfer of assets to aid Ukraine cannot occur until the Jersey proceedings are concluded.
During a heated session of PMQs, Starmer confronted Badenoch, accusing her of lacking judgment and leadership. He urged her to acknowledge the conflict of interest in allowing Lord Wolfson to retain his position in the shadow cabinet.
Starmer addressed the Commons, stating, “While I understand that lawyers represent various clients, the issue here is whether the shadow attorney general can hold a shadow cabinet seat while the opposing party (Tories) claims to support us on sanctions. We advocate for funds from Chelsea Football Club to be directed to Ukraine. If this aligns with her stance, then it presumably forms part of shadow cabinet discussions, guided by a Shadow Attorney General representing the very individual whose funds we aim to allocate to Ukraine.”
“If she fails to see the conflict of interest, then it reflects a lack of judgment and leadership on her part. Despite it being a new year, the opposition leader has nothing substantial to offer the nation. She is essentially irrelevant, with no one giving heed to her.”
Abramovich divested the club in 2022 following UK sanctions tied to his alleged connections with Vladimir Putin after the Ukrainian invasion. The sale proceeds have been frozen, and the government is prepared to pursue legal action to release them.
The funds, intended for humanitarian purposes related to the Ukraine conflict, remain locked in a UK bank account due to a standoff between Abramovich’s legal team and the government.
In December, Starmer issued a warning to the billionaire, threatening legal action if he fails to transfer the Chelsea sale proceeds. In a letter to Badenoch, Labour Justice Minister Jake Richards highlighted Wolfson’s financial interest in Abramovich’s assets and emphasized the compromised nature of his advice due to his representation of Abramovich.
Richards also sought clarification from the Tory leader regarding the Opposition’s stance on the necessity for Abramovich to allocate over £2.5 billion to support Ukraine.
The Conservatives dismissed Labour’s criticisms, asserting that Lord Wolfson is not involved in the Chelsea FC matter and labeling the attack as purely political. A Conservative party spokesperson remarked that barristers represent clients, not causes, and criticized Labour for misunderstanding legal practices. The spokesperson urged Labour to refrain from mudslinging.