UK Conservative Party leader responds to Al Jazeera investigation

UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said the party does not condone the conduct of Jack Ross, a former member and parliamentary candidate, after an Al Jazeera investigation recorded him discussing contract killers and offering to broker the services of a far-right activist.

The investigation, published by Al Jazeera on October 22, 2026, showed Ross in conversation about hiring contract killers and connecting people with a far-right activist. The recordings have put the spotlight back on the Conservatives' vetting of those selected to stand for the party.

Responding to the findings, Badenoch said the party did not condone Ross's conduct, distancing the Tories from the former candidate after the undercover recordings came to light.

Ross had been put forward as a Conservative candidate before the investigation's revelations surfaced. He is no longer a member of the party.

The case adds to the pressure on the party leadership over standards in public life, with opposition voices expected to question how Ross came to be selected in the first place.

Al Jazeera's investigation used undercover reporting to capture the conversations, a method the broadcaster has employed in previous exposés of political misconduct. The broadcaster's NewsFeed video summarises the key findings for its audience.