Met investigate donation to Jenrick's Tory leadership campaign

The Metropolitan Police have launched a formal investigation into donations connected to Robert Jenrick's Conservative leadership campaign in 2024. The Electoral Commission reportedly flagged claims that £37,500 of a £100,000 donation from Spott Fitness, a company linked to businessman Phillip Ullmann, may have originated from a US company, Innovyz. Innovyz was founded by Gary Klopfenstein, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud in 2024.

“

The allegations are entirely false.

Jenrick, who is now a Reform MP, has vehemently denied the allegations. "The suggestion that Robert knowingly accepted impermissible donations is an untrue, politically motivated smear," a spokesman for Jenrick stated. The spokesman added that Jenrick and his campaign team complied with all electoral laws and that Ullmann was introduced to Jenrick by a Conservative MP, with the donation's permissibility checked by the party. Jenrick himself stated he has had no contact with the Met Police regarding the matter.

“

I have had no contact with the Met Police whatsoever in connection with this matter.

The Electoral Commission began examining the donation allegations in April, following a report by The Guardian. The commission subsequently passed the information to the Metropolitan Police in January of this year. The police confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating it began following a referral from the Electoral Commission on January 6. Foreign donations to UK politicians are banned under electoral law. The Conservative Party has stated that all candidates in the 2024 leadership race were reminded of the law surrounding permissible donations.

“

The suggestion that Robert knowingly accepted impermissible donations is an untrue, politically motivated smear, put about years later by the Conservatives, despite the fact that Mr Ullman was introduced to Robert by a Tory MP, and had his donations' permissibility checked by the party.