A senior Conservative frontbencher is at the centre of a major political storm after it was revealed he is representing sanctioned oligarch Roman Abramovich, rather than providing legal advice on the war in Ukraine.
Conflict of Interest Allegations
Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson is facing intense pressure to resign after joining the legal team of Roman Abramovich in a high-stakes case in Jersey. The development has sparked fury, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accusing Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of showing "no judgement and no leadership" for allowing the situation to arise.
The controversy erupted during Prime Minister's Questions on 7 January 2026, where Starmer highlighted the apparent conflict. The government is demanding Abramovich hand over £2.5 billion from the frozen sale of Chelsea Football Club to aid Ukraine's reconstruction. Yet, the Conservative Party's top legal adviser in the Lords is now working for the very billionaire resisting that demand.
The Legal Standoff in Jersey
Lord Wolfson has been instructed in Abramovich's battle with the Jersey government, which is investigating the source of more than £5.3 billion in assets linked to the oligarch held on the island. It is understood that Abramovich's lawyers argue the transfer of funds to Ukraine cannot proceed until the Jersey proceedings conclude.
Addressing a protest organised by the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign outside Conservative headquarters, Labour MP Joe Powell said the situation was "astonishing." He stated: "This conflict of interest at the top of the Conservative Party is completely untenable."
Conservatives Defend Position
In response to the backlash, the Conservatives have stated that Lord Wolfson has stepped back from providing legal advice on matters relating to Russia and Ukraine. A spokesman for Kemi Badenoch clarified that Wolfson does not sit in the shadow cabinet and stressed the Jersey case was in a "completely different jurisdiction."
"It has absolutely no read across to the £2.5billion held from the sale of Chelsea FC," the spokesman said, adding that the party wants to see those funds reach Ukraine "as soon as possible." Legal advice on Ukraine and Russia will now be handled by others, including shadow solicitor general Helen Grant.
The row underscores the ongoing difficulty in releasing the frozen Chelsea sale proceeds, which have been stuck in a UK bank account since Abramovich was sanctioned in 2022 over his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin. Last month, Keir Starmer issued an ultimatum to the billionaire, warning of legal action if he does not voluntarily hand over the money.
