The shadow attorney general, Lord David Wolfson, has recused himself from advising Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on Ukraine and Russia due to his legal work for sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. The move was confirmed by a spokesperson for Badenoch, who stated that Wolfson would not provide legal advice on matters relating to Ukraine, including the potential deployment of UK troops in a ceasefire scenario.
Wolfson is part of the legal team representing Abramovich in a bid to recover billions in frozen assets held in the Channel Islands. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer criticised the arrangement, questioning how someone advising an individual attempting to escape sanctions could support the government's sanctions policy. Labour has argued that Wolfson's role creates an unacceptable conflict of interest.
Badenoch's spokesperson emphasised that Wolfson does not sit in the shadow cabinet and that the Jersey-based case is separate from the £2.5bn frozen from Abramovich's sale of Chelsea Football Club, which the UK intends to use for Ukraine's reconstruction. The spokesperson noted that Wolfson's recusal is standard practice and that the party has other legal experts, including Robert Jenrick and Victoria Atkins, to advise on such matters.
The Conservatives have previously criticised Attorney General Richard Hermer for cases he took as a barrister, including representing Gerry Adams and Liberty in the Shamima Begum case. A Tory spokesperson sought to distinguish between Wolfson's work on a case and Hermer's advocacy for causes, though could not provide examples of the latter. Labour has drawn parallels between the two situations, accusing the Conservatives of hypocrisy.
