The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into £37,500 of donations to Robert Jenrick’s 2024 Conservative leadership campaign following a referral from the Electoral Commission. The watchdog had been examining allegations that the money came from a foreign source, potentially breaching electoral laws that ban foreign donations to UK politicians.
Jenrick, who has since defected to Reform UK and serves as the party’s Treasury spokesperson, strongly denied the claims, calling them “entirely false” and suggesting they were motivated by attempts to block Reform’s agenda. He stated he had no contact with the police regarding the matter.
The donations in question were made by UK-based company The Spott Fitness, but the Electoral Commission’s investigation centred on allegations that £37,500 of the £100,000 total from that firm was ultimately provided by US businessman Gary Klopfenstein through his US company Innovyz USA. Jenrick previously said he was unaware of any connection to Klopfenstein until the commission made inquiries.
Conservative party chair Kevin Hollinrake confirmed the referral to police was appropriate. The exact scope of the police probe remains unclear, and no individuals have been named as suspects.
