Tory Shadow Attorney General David Wolfson Faces Scrutiny Over Representation of Roman Abramovich
David Wolfson, a Conservative peer and shadow attorney general, is representing Roman Abramovich in a dispute with the Jersey government regarding the provenance of assets linked to the billionaire. The case involves over £5.3 billion of assets held in Jersey, and it is delaying the release of approximately £2.5 billion from the Chelsea FC sale that was intended for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
Labour leader Keir Starmer warned that Abramovich must release the sale proceeds within 90 days or face court action, emphasizing the funds' intended use for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. Labour chair Anna Turley has demanded that Kemi Badenoch disclose whether she was aware that Wolfson would represent Abramovich, arguing that a sanctions-compliant approach should bar such representation within the shadow cabinet.
Justice minister Jake Richards stated that Wolfson should either resign from the shadow cabinet or withdraw from the Jersey case, and he inquired whether Badenoch recused herself from policy decisions related to Abramovich. The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign criticized Wolfson's role in the case. In response, a Conservative spokesman clarified that Wolfson's work pertains solely to Jersey proceedings and not to the Chelsea sale.
Ministers have cited the cab-rank rule, which obligates barristers to accept cases, to justify Wolfson’s representation. Conservatives pointed to prior work by Attorney General Richard Hermer as a precedent, but cabinet secretary Chris Wormald dismissed concerns of conflicts as insufficient to warrant a formal probe.
