Robert Jenrick referred to watchdog over foreign donations

Robert Jenrick has been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards by the Conservative Party amid a complaint over foreign donations.

The action follows an Electoral Commission inquiry, which resulted in a file being handed over to the Metropolitan Police.

The matter centres on financial contributions made to the Newark MP, which are now subject to both a potential criminal investigation and scrutiny under parliamentary rules.

The Tories have indicated they are prepared to supply additional evidence to the Commissioner if requested.

The referral marks a significant development in questions surrounding the funding arrangements of the former leadership contender.

The donations in question comprise four separate payments of £25,000 each, made between July and September 2024.

These contributions were registered in the House of Commons Register of Members' Financial Interests as originating from Spott Fitness Limited, a company incorporated in the UK.

However, the Conservative Party now claims to possess evidence that £37,500 of the £100,000 total actually came from Innovyz USA LLC, an American firm.

This US company is controlled by Gary Klopfenstein, an American citizen who previously admitted to wire fraud charges in the United States.

Klopfenstein is also reportedly facing an ongoing FBI investigation.

According to the party's submission, payments from Innovyz were specifically marked as a "Robert Jenrick Campaign Contribution" before being channelled through Spott Fitness.

The Conservatives allege Klopfenstein utilised company funds to honour a personal pledge to financially back Mr Jenrick.

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The money was deposited into the "Newark Parliamentary Campaign Fund", a bank account established via the MP's parliamentary office rather than through the local Conservative Association.

The party maintains it had no involvement in or knowledge of these funds being accepted at the time.

Under Commons rules, MPs are personally responsible for verifying the sources of donations within 30 days and must return impermissible contributions.

The party's letter argues that while Spott Fitness qualified as a permissible UK donor, parliamentary rules require members to disclose intermediaries and the genuine origin of funds.

The Conservatives contend that Spott Fitness's role as a conduit and the American source of part of the money were not adequately disclosed.

The submission further claims evidence exists suggesting Mr Jenrick and his team knew funds were being routed via the fitness company.

Despite the Electoral Commission's police referral, the party insists a separate parliamentary standards inquiry remains essential, noting rules governing MP conduct operate independently from electoral law.

Kevin Hollinrake MP, Chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party, said: "Foreign donations are illegal. Politicians who funnel and hide unlawful money should face the full force of the law.

"The police must investigate Reform UK’s spokesman for Financial Affairs, Robert Jenrick. The Conservative Party has also reported Mr Jenrick to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, given the apparent serious breach of House of Commons rules. Parliament, the public and the Conservative Party all appear to have been deceived.

"While Robert Jenrick has been kicked out of the Conservative Party and is now Nigel Farage’s right-hand man, this represents serious malpractice in a leadership contest."

A spokesman for Mr Jenrick said: "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 Ullmann was introduced to Robert by a Tory MP, and had his donations’ permissibility checked by the party.

"Robert and his campaign team complied with all electoral laws when receiving the donation received from Spott Fitness Ltd in 2024.

"Mr Jenrick has never met, spoken to, or had any contact with Mr Klopfenstein, nor was he aware of any connection between him and Mr Ullmann’s donation until he was contacted by the Electoral Commission.

"He fully cooperated with the Electoral Commission inquiry, providing detailed records that categorically disproved these smears in 2025.

"The dispute between these two businessmen, which seems to be the cause of these claims, has nothing to do with Robert.

"He does not know anything about the police’s review of this matter and has not been contacted by them, but he would, of course, provide any assessment, if indeed there is one, with the same records he provided the Electoral Commission."

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