Fury as top Tory 'puts representing Roman Abramovich over giving Ukraine advice' - The Mirror

Tory shadow attorney general has been accused of choosing to represent Roman Abramovich rather than give legal advice on the Russia and Ukraine war after it emerged he is part of the oligarch's legal team

A top Tory has been accused of choosing to represent Roman Abramovich rather than giving legal advice on Russia and Ukraine.

Kemi Badenoch faces calls to sack shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson after it emerged he was representing the oligarch in a legal case in Jersey. The Government has called on the former Chelsea FC owner to hand over £2.5billion of frozen money to help rebuild Ukraine.

At PMQs Keir Starmer accused Ms Badenoch of showing no judgement or leadership. The Conservatives later said Lord Wolfson had stepped back from giving legal advice about Russia and Ukraine.

Addressing a protest outside Tory HQ organised by the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, Labour MP Joe Powell said: "It is astonishing that Kemi Badenoch's top legal adviser has prioritised representing sanctioned oligarch Roman Abramovich over doing his job to give shadow ministers advice on issues of huge national and international importance, including Ukraine's security, Russian deterrance and sanctions policy.

"This conflict of interest at the top of the Conservative Party is completely untenable." Lord Wolfson has been instructed in Abramovich's legal battle with the Jersey government, which is probing the source of more than £5.3billion in assets linked to him which are held there.

It is understood Abramovich has argued the transfer of assets to help Ukraine cannot happen until proceedings in Jersey have concluded. In a tense PMQs clash, Mr Starmer called on the Tory leader to recognise there is a conflict of interest in letting Lord Wolfson remain in the shadow cabinet.

He told the Commons: "Of course, I accept that lawyers have to represent all sorts of clients, of course I accept that. The question is whether the shadow attorney general can sit in the shadow cabinet when the party opposite (the Tories) says it supports us on sanctions.

"We want the money from Chelsea Football Club to go to Ukraine. I'm not sure whether that's her position.

"If it is her position, presumably it's something they discuss in the shadow cabinet advised by a Shadow Attorney General who is representing the very man whose money we want to send to Ukraine.

"If she can't see the conflict of interest in that, then she shows no judgment and no leadership at all. It's a new year, but the leader of the opposition's got absolutely nothing to offer the country.

"She is totally irrelevant. Nobody is listening to her." Abramovich sold the club in 2022 after he was sanctioned by the UK over his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.

The proceeds have been frozen, and the Government has said it is prepared to take legal action to release it. This money was intended for humanitarian causes linked to the Ukraine war, but it remains frozen in a UK bank account due to a standoff between Mr Abramovich's lawyers and the Government.

Last month Mr Starmer issued an ultimatum to the billionaire - warning he would face legal action if he does not hand over the proceeds of the Chelsea sale. A spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said Lord Wolfson does not sit in the shadow cabinet and the Jersey case was a "completely different jurisdiction".

"It has absolutely no read across to the £ 2.5billion held from the sale of Chelsea FC and the Conservatives have said on multiple occasions and will repeat again, we want to see those funds get out and get to Ukraine as soon as possible," he said.

Lord Wolfson "has recused himself from legal advice on Ukraine and Russia, as is standard practice". It means legal advice on those issues could be provided by shadow solicitor general Helen Grant, or lawyers around the shadow cabinet table including shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, the spokesman said.