Investigation is underway regarding a political donation connected to Robert Jenrick’s bid for Tory leadership in 2024. The Metropolitan Police is reportedly examining allegations that a contribution to Jenrick’s campaign violated UK election laws by originating from a foreign donor. Jenrick has refuted the accusations, labeling them as baseless.
Jenrick, a former Conservative minister who switched to Reform UK earlier in the year, vied for leadership within the Conservative Party in 2024, competing to succeed Rishi Sunak. Ultimately, he was defeated by Kemi Badenoch.
The scrutiny revolves around a £100,000 donation to Jenrick’s campaign from UK company Spott Fitness, with claims suggesting that a portion of this sum, around £37,000, came from a US associate of Ullmann, Gary Klopfenstein, who has a fraud conviction.
In response to reports that the Electoral Commission was looking into the donation, the Labour party urged Jenrick’s campaign to return the alleged funds from Klopfenstein. The Guardian indicated that the elections watchdog had forwarded evidence to the police.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the launch of an investigation following a referral from the Electoral Commission concerning donations linked to a political party’s leadership campaign. The investigation is ongoing, with no specific individual confirmed as the target.
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake emphasized the illegality of foreign donations under UK law and the necessity of transparently disclosing donation sources to the public. Jenrick dismissed the allegations as false, attributing them to an establishment intent on obstructing Reform’s reformative agenda.
Jenrick’s spokesperson defended his compliance with electoral laws in receiving the donation, asserting that Jenrick was unaware of any impermissible connections and cooperated fully with the Electoral Commission’s inquiry in 2025.
An Electoral Commission representative acknowledged the ongoing investigation into donations related to a 2024 leadership campaign, with potential offences referred to the Metropolitan Police. The Commission’s investigation is on hold pending the police inquiry.
Details of the ongoing investigations are not disclosed, as per protocol.