LONDON — The Metropolitan Police Service began reviewing evidence on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, concerning donations to Robert Jenrick's 2024 Conservative leadership campaign, following a referral from the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission paused its own investigation while police assess the material, which relates to potential offences outside the commission's remit.

The Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement: "On Tuesday, 6 January we received a referral from the Electoral Commission concerning donations connected to a leadership campaign. This referral is under review and until it has been completed, we're not in a position to comment further."

The scope of the police review has not been disclosed, and police have not confirmed whether it relates to any specific individual. After reviewing the evidence, police could decide to open an investigation or take no further action.

The Electoral Commission had been examining allegations that almost £40,000 of donations to Jenrick's leadership campaign, made before he defected to Reform UK, came from a foreign source in breach of electoral rules. UK electoral law prohibits foreign companies and individuals from donating to UK politicians or political parties.

The allegations concerned donations to Jenrick by the UK-based company The Spott Fitness. The investigation centered on claims that £37,500 of the £100,000 donated by The Spott Fitness was ultimately given by US businessman Gary Klopfenstein via Innovyz USA, with transfers to Spott Fitness recorded on July 8, 2024 and July 24, 2024.

It had been thought that the £100,000 was contributed by Phillip Ullmann, who revealed in 2024 that The Spott Fitness was part of his family's group of companies when questions arose about its ownership and a loan from a British Virgin Islands–based company. In 2025, Ullmann told the Electoral Commission that £37,500 of the donation came from Klopfenstein via Innovyz USA.

Jenrick was a Conservative Member of Parliament raising funds for a possible leadership bid to succeed Rishi Sunak in 2024. He has since defected to Reform UK and serves as Nigel Farage's Treasury spokesperson. The Conservative Party referred him to the parliamentary commissioner for standards.

A campaign spokesperson 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."

The spokesperson said Jenrick had no knowledge of the police review and had not been contacted by police. The spokesperson also said Ullmann was transparent with Jenrick's campaign and voluntarily gave information to the Electoral Commission. The Spott Fitness declined to comment on the allegations, and Klopfenstein did not respond to a request for comment.