Labour criticises Tory shadow minister for representing Abramovich

Labour has criticised Conservative shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson for acting as a lawyer for sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Justice Minister Jake Richards said it was "indefensible" for him to retain his position on the Tory frontbench while also representing Mr Abramovich, arguing it risked a conflict of interest.

The Conservatives said the comments were "pure politics" and a "baseless smear", adding that "barristers act for clients, not causes".

Lord Wolfson is part of the legal team representing the former owner of Chelsea Football Club in his court battle with the Jersey government.

Mr Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government in March 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The oligarch, who made his fortune in oil and gas, is alleged to have strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he denies.

More than £5.3bn of assets linked to Mr Abramovich have been frozen by courts in Jersey since he was sanctioned.

In April 2022, the Jersey government launched an investigation to determine the source of the funds, sparking a long-running legal battle.

The justice minister claimed the case was holding up the transfer of funds from Mr Abramovich's sale of Chelsea FC, which the government wants to go to victims of the war in Ukraine.

In 2022 Mr Abramovich said the £2.5bn he made from the sale should be used for "all victims of the war" - meaning Russians could also benefit.

In a letter to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Richards said: "Mr Abramovich's position is that the transfer of the funds cannot be completed until the end of the court case in Jersey in which Lord Wolfson is representing him.

"As shadow attorney general, Lord Wolfson has a crucial role in formulating Conservative Party policy.

"As a paid representative of Mr Abramovich, he has a financial interest in the question of whether and when Mr Abramovich's assets are transferred to benefit the people of Ukraine."

In his letter the minister raised a number of questions, including whether Lord Wolfson played a role in formulating the party's position on transferring the funds from the sale of Chelsea FC and whether he declared an interest or recused himself from the process.

Richards said the "cab rank rule" - the principle that a barrister must take on any case that is within their area of expertise, regardless of the client - "should always be respected, but it cannot remove conflicts of interest, or eliminate the responsibility of politicians to avoid such conflicts".

He added: "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.

"If he wants to continue to represent clients whose interests directly bear on the policies of the government and HM opposition that is a matter for him - but he cannot do it while serving in your shadow cabinet."

In a letter in response, Alex Burghart, Conservative shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the Jersey case had "nothing to do with the intended donation of the Chelsea sale proceeds".

He insisted Lord Wolfson did not have a financial interest in the outcome of the proceedings and "is not acting under any sort of conditional fee or 'no win, no fee' arrangement".

"I am confident that at all times Lord Wolfson has acted in accordance with his professional obligations and with integrity," he added.

Burghart stressed the Conservative Party wanted the Chelsea funds to "reach their intended recipients lawfully and without delay".

There has been a delay in releasing the funds from the sale of Chelsea FC, which are currently frozen in a British bank account, due to a standoff over how exactly they should be used.

Mr Abramovich cannot access the money under UK sanctions but the proceeds from the Chelsea sale still legally belong to him.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged the oligarch to "pay up now" or face court action.

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