A Shadowy Conflict: Lawmaker's Ties to a Sanctioned Billionaire

A Shadow Attorney General Under Scrutiny

A Conservative lawmaker, Lord Wolfson, finds himself in hot water. As a shadow attorney general and a lawyer for Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire under UK sanctions, Labour isn't happy about this setup. They say it's a conflict of interest. Justice Minister Jake Richards even called it "indefensible."

The Abramovich Connection

Lord Wolfson is part of Abramovich's legal team, currently fighting a court battle in Jersey. The UK government sanctioned Abramovich in March 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The oligarch, who made his fortune in oil and gas, is accused of having strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abramovich denies these allegations.

Frozen Assets and Legal Battles

More than £5.3bn of Abramovich's assets are frozen in Jersey since the sanctions were imposed. In April 2022, Jersey launched an investigation into the origins of Abramovich's wealth, sparking a prolonged legal battle.

The Chelsea FC Funds Dispute

Richards claims this case is delaying the transfer of funds from the sale of Chelsea FC. The UK government wants the £2.5bn from the sale to go to Ukrainian war victims. However, Abramovich argues the funds should help "all victims of the war," including Russians.

Questions of Conflict and Ethics

Richards raised concerns about whether Lord Wolfson influenced the Conservative Party's stance on the Chelsea FC funds. He also questioned whether Wolfson declared his interest or recused himself. Richards emphasized that the "cab rank rule"—which requires barristers to take cases within their expertise—does not negate conflicts of interest.

Conservative Response

The Conservatives dismissed Richards' comments as "pure politics." They argued that Labour doesn't understand how the legal system works, stating that barristers represent clients, not causes. The Conservatives also accused Labour of hypocrisy, pointing out that Labour's Attorney General once represented a Sinn Féin leader. The Conservatives reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and called Labour's claims a "new low."