Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, accepted hospitality valued at £1,400 during a stay at the French Riviera home of Lubov Chernukhin, a Conservative Party donor and the wife of Russia’s former deputy finance minister. This stay took place from August 4 to 6 and included accommodation worth £1,000 and meals totaling £400. According to the register of MPs’ interests, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss “gas power in the UK.”
Tice, the MP for Boston and Skegness and the party’s energy spokesperson, is known for his critiques of net zero initiatives. Lubov Chernukhin, a British citizen and former banker, has made over £2 million in donations to the Conservative Party since 2014 and was involved in high-profile fundraising events, including bidding for a tennis session with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The couple established a new company, Satellite Energy Systems, in January 2023, aimed at providing energy solutions in alignment with net zero goals.
Labour Party representatives expressed concern over Tice’s acceptance of the hospitality, questioning why he was engaging with “vested foreign interests” on the topic of UK energy policy. Tice responded by asserting that the UK faces a significant electricity shortage and emphasized the necessity of discussing investments in gas power infrastructure, considering it a path to reliable and cost-effective energy generation.
Tice also pointed out that he maximizes his limited schedule by meeting stakeholders during parliamentary recess periods. In response to Labour’s criticism, he remarked on the Chernukhins’ British citizenship and suggested their experiences should inform UK energy discussions. He further noted that he did not expect Lubov Chernukhin to contribute to Reform UK due to her affiliations. Chernukhin’s spokesperson stated her focus on promoting economic growth and local investment, maintaining that she does not exert influence over policy decisions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/oct/10/richard-tice-tory-donor-lubov-chernukhin