A former Conservative election candidate has been suspended by the party after undercover footage emerged appearing to show him discussing the costs and methods of violence, and offering to "broker" the services of a far‑right activist alleged to have paramilitary links.
Police to review documentary for potential criminality
The footage, aired in an Al Jazeera documentary titled Contract Killers and the Far Right, shows Jack Ross apparently speaking to an undercover reporter. In the material released, Ross is filmed asking, "What do you want done?" before listing a range of violent options purportedly available for payment.
"They can just kick the fuck out of someone. That’s a certain amount. They can start cutting people’s faces up, that’s another amount. And they can stab someone. They can shoot someone. They can kill someone."
Police in Scotland have said they will review and assess the documentary for any criminal offences. The Scottish police statement indicates the material will be examined to determine whether any action is required.
Political links and roles raise further questions
Jack Ross is chief executive of Turning Point UK (TPUK), a UK offshoot of a campaign group founded by the murdered US commentator Charlie Kirk. TPUK has previously released footage showing Ross and other group members meeting Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader.
Ross is also listed as a research fellow on the Bow Group's website, where his profile says he has advised MPs and candidates on political and digital strategy. Photographs published alongside his profile have shown him with senior Conservative figures including Boris Johnson, James Cleverly, Jacob Rees‑Mogg and Liam Fox.
Al Jazeera reported that Ross introduced its undercover reporter to a violent criminal from Glasgow with alleged links to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). The contact, filmed in a London hotel, is reported to have offered to arrange killings for money. In the film, the reporter posed as someone with a fictitious family problem relating to a deceased relative's business being threatened by a gang; Ross is reported to have said he could "broker" a solution while keeping his name out of any reprisals.
- Subject: Jack Ross — former Conservative election candidate, chief executive of TPUK.
- Allegation: Discussing and brokering violent options including assault, mutilation, stabbing, shooting and murder, according to undercover footage.
- Response: Suspension from the Conservative Party; Scottish police to review documentary for criminality.
| Organisation | Connection |
|---|---|
| Turning Point UK (TPUK) | Ross is chief executive; group linked to US founder Charlie Kirk |
| Bow Group | Lists Ross as a research fellow advising MPs and candidates |
The emergence of the footage has prompted immediate political fallout. The Conservative Party announced the suspension while authorities consider whether any laws were breached. The allegations also raise questions about vetting processes for candidates and campaign operatives, and the degree of contact between mainstream politicians and fringe organisations or individuals with alleged paramilitary links.
For lawmakers and party managers the case presents a test of internal discipline and public accountability. If criminality is established, prosecutions could follow; if not, the party will still face scrutiny over how and why a figure with such reported contacts occupied roles that brought him into proximity with senior Conservatives.
The story is likely to prompt further inquiries into the activities of TPUK and the networks connecting UK far‑right activists to organised crime figures. It will also intensify pressure on party headquarters to explain the speed and substance of its response, and on MPs who have associated with Ross to disclose the nature and extent of their contact.
As police examine the footage, the wider political consequences will depend on what investigators can substantiate. For now, the suspension signals the party's immediate attempt to distance itself from the allegations while public and legal processes run their course.
