Keir Starmer lashed out at Kemi Badenoch in a tense PMQs clash after it emerged Tory shadow cabinet member Lord Wolfson is representing Roman Abramovich in a legal case in Jersey
Keir Starmer has attacked Kemi Badenoch for allowing a member of Roman Abramovich’s legal team to sit in at her top table.
The PM lashed out after it emerged Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson is representing the former Chelsea owner – who faces calls to hand over £2.5billion to help rebuild Ukraine.
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.
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In a tense PMQs clash, Mr Starmer told Ms Badenoch that she has shown “no judgement and no leadership”. He called on her 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.
The 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.
In December 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.
In a letter to Ms Badenoch last month, Labour Justice Minister Jake Richards wrote: “As a paid representative of Mr Abramovich, he has a financial interest in the question of whether and when Mr Abramovich’s assets are transferred to benefit the people of Ukraine.”
He went on: “Lord Wolfson’s ability to advise you in respect of this matter is clearly compromised by the fact that he is being paid to act on behalf of Mr Abramovich. If he wants to continue to represent clients whose interests directly bear on the policies of the Government and HM Opposition that is a matter for him – but he cannot do it while serving in your Shadow Cabinet.”
“It is for him to decide, and for you to decide, which of these roles is more important.” Mr Richards also asked the Tory leader to clarify whether the Opposition was aligned with the Government position that Mr Abramovich must transfer more than £2.5 billion to benefit the people of Ukraine.
The Tories said Lord Wolfson is not instructed on the matter of Chelsea FC and branded Labour’s attack “pure politics.” A Conservative party spokesman said: “Lord Wolfson is instructed in on-going legal proceedings in Jersey. He is not instructed on the Chelsea FC matter.
“Jake Richards’ comments are pure politics, and they show Labour still does not understand how the Bar works. Barristers act for clients, not causes. And it’s a bit rich from this Government. Labour should stop throwing mud.”