British Conservative activist suspected of 'brokering' hitman hires previously worked for party headquarters

An activist who worked for the Conservative Party headquarters was caught in an undercover recording

Jack Ross, a former Conservative Party activist who, according to an Al Jazeera investigation, was filmed undercover offering to 'help' arrange hitmen for contract killings, had previously done paid work for the party leadership. As BBC News reports, Ross worked on social media for the party under contract until the beginning of this year, and he was never an employee and did not hold a pass to the Conservatives' campaign headquarters (CCHQ).

The circumstances of the recording and the party's reaction

According to Al Jazeera, its undercover journalist approached Ross in 2022 with a fictitious story about a family business threatened by a criminal gang. Ross, the channel claims, asked what was required of him and listed 'services' that could be 'ordered', including stabbings, shootings and killing. Ross himself, according to Al Jazeera, completely denies these findings and says that everything he said to the journalist was not serious. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the episode 'shocking allegations' and added that she does not consider this person a current member of the party. A Conservative spokesperson said that Ross's membership has been suspended 'with immediate effect pending the conclusion of an investigation'.

Ties to the party leadership

Ross held the post of Chief Operations Officer at Turning Point UK — the British offshoot of a right-wing American organisation. In that role he met Badenoch several times, and, according to BBC News, also other right-wing politicians, including former prime minister Boris Johnson and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Turning Point UK has not yet responded to a request for comment. It is worth noting that the publications do not say whether party headquarters knew about the content of the 2022 recording before Al Jazeera's report aired this week — this question remains open.

Why this matters

The scandal touches the reputation of the Conservative Party at a moment when its leader is forced to publicly distance herself from a person who had contractual relations with headquarters and access to its leadership. One change has already followed in practice: Ross's membership has been suspended pending an investigation, and the party must determine how external contractors were vetted. Final conclusions depend on the outcome of an investigation that has only just begun.

Image source, Reuters