The Metropolitan Police have initiated a formal investigation into a donation connected to a political party’s leadership campaign, according to recent reports. The probe follows a referral from the Electoral Commission, which had been examining allegations that a £37,500 donation made to Robert Jenrick’s 2024 Conservative leadership bid originated from overseas, which is prohibited under UK electoral law.
The Electoral Commission reportedly passed information concerning the donation to the police in January. A spokesperson for the Met confirmed the force is investigating donations linked to a leadership campaign, though they did not specify who might be the subject of their inquiries. The investigation remains ongoing.
Robert Jenrick, who has since defected from the Conservatives to Nigel Farage’s Reform party, strongly denied the claims. “The allegations are entirely false,” he stated, adding that he has had no contact with the Metropolitan Police regarding the matter. Jenrick finished second to Kemi Badenoch in the Conservative leadership contest held in the summer of 2024.
British businessman Phillip Ullmann identified himself in September 2024 as the source of the funds. However, the Electoral Commission has been scrutinizing claims that the money actually originated from the US-based company Innovyz, which was founded by Gary Klopfenstein, a US businessman who pleaded guilty to wire fraud in 2024.
A spokesperson for Jenrick dismissed the investigation as a “politically motivated smear,” asserting that the campaign complied with all electoral laws when receiving the donation from Spott Fitness Ltd. The spokesperson noted that Mr. Ullmann had been introduced to Jenrick by a Conservative MP and that the permissibility of the donation had been checked by the party. Furthermore, the statement emphasized that Jenrick had never met or spoken to Klopfenstein and was unaware of any connection between him and the donation until contacted by the Electoral Commission. Jenrick reportedly provided detailed records to the Commission in 2025 to address the claims.
The Conservative Party stated that all 2024 leadership candidates were reminded of the regulations regarding permissible donations. A spokesperson for Mr. Ullmann declined to provide a comment on the matter.
