The Metropolitan Police are investigating a £37,500 donation made to Robert Jenrick's past campaign for Conservative Party leader, over allegations that the contribution breached electoral law by originating from a foreign source.
The probe was initiated after the Electoral Commission referred the matter to the police earlier this year. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated on Tuesday, January 6, that the referral concerns donations connected to a leadership campaign and is currently under review.
The donation in question was made to Jenrick's campaign during the 2024 race to succeed Rishi Sunak as Conservative leader. The funds were provided by British entrepreneur Phillip Ullmann through a company named Spott Fitness. It was later claimed that a portion of this money, specifically £37,500, was impermissible because it allegedly originated from Gary Klopfenstein, a US businessman who pleaded guilty to investment fraud in 2024.
Robert Jenrick, who defected to Reform UK earlier this year, has stated that he has had no contact with the police regarding this matter and denies the allegations. A spokesperson for Jenrick asserted that the suggestion of knowingly accepting impermissible donations is a false and politically motivated smear. The spokesperson added that Ullmann was introduced to Jenrick by a Conservative MP and that the permissibility of his donations was checked by the party. According to the spokesperson, Jenrick and his campaign team complied with all electoral laws at the time of receiving the donation from Spott Fitness Ltd in 2024.
Jenrick's team also stated that he has never met, spoken to, or had any contact with Klopfenstein, nor was he aware of any connection between Klopfenstein and Ullmann's donation until contacted by the Electoral Commission. They maintain that Jenrick fully cooperated with the Electoral Commission's inquiry in 2025, providing detailed records that they claim disproved the allegations.
However, Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake commented that the Electoral Commission rightly referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police, who are now investigating. He emphasized that foreign donations are illegal and the true source of a donation must be declared, adding that Parliament and the public deserve the truth about this donation.
This investigation could present further challenges for Reform UK, as the party's leader, Nigel Farage, is already reportedly under scrutiny by the parliamentary sleaze watchdog concerning a £5 million gift he received from a crypto tycoon that was allegedly undeclared. The Daily Mail reported this story, citing police and campaign sources.