Former Tory candidate suspended after allegedly discussing contract killings

Jack Ross suspended pending investigation after undercover footage appeared to show him offering violent options for hire

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Jack Ross, a former Conservative election candidate and chief executive of Turning Point UK, has been suspended from the party after being filmed apparently discussing the cost of hiring contract killers and offering to broker the services of a far-right activist with alleged paramilitary links. Police Scotland said it would review the Al Jazeera documentary for any criminality.

The Conservative party suspended Jack Ross with immediate effect pending an investigation after an Al Jazeera documentary showed him apparently telling an undercover reporter: "What do you want done?" before listing violent options that could be bought, including kicking, cutting faces, stabbing, shooting and killing.

Ross, who stood as a Conservative candidate in local elections, is the chief executive of Turning Point UK, a spin-off from the US-based group founded by the late Republican commentator Charlie Kirk. He has been pictured with Boris Johnson, James Cleverly, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Liam Fox, and is listed as a research fellow at the Bow Group, a Conservative thinktank.

In the documentary, Ross is reported to have introduced the undercover reporter to a violent criminal from Glasgow with links to the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force who offered to arrange killings. The meeting took place after Ross, reportedly acting on behalf of the Zimbabwean government, had paid thousands of pounds to the Glasgow activist to organise a fake political rally.

Al Jazeera reported that Ross had "completely" denied the findings, claiming his remarks were not meant seriously. Nick Tenconi, chief operating officer of Turning Point UK and leader of the UK Independence party, was also filmed alongside Ross discussing a plan to use football hooligans to stir up trouble.

A Conservative party spokesperson said: "Mr Ross's membership of the Conservative party has been suspended with immediate effect pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while the investigation is ongoing."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We're aware of the documentary. It will be reviewed and assessed for any criminality."

Analysis

Why This Matters

Raises questions about how far-right-linked figures operate within mainstream political structures
Highlights potential vulnerabilities in vetting of election candidates and party members
Police review could lead to criminal charges; party investigation will test internal accountability

Background

Jack Ross was a local election candidate for the Conservatives and leads Turning Point UK, a student movement that has increasingly engaged in anti-migrant street protests. The group's chief operating officer, Nick Tenconi, also leads the far-right UK Independence party. Ross has advised MPs and candidates on political and digital strategy, and his profile includes meetings with senior Conservative figures.

The investigation stemmed from an Al Jazeera undercover operation in which Ross was approached with a fictitious problem about a deceased uncle's business being threatened by a gang. The documentary also captured Ross expressing concern that journalists might record his remarks and pass them to police, noting that would lead to a conspiracy charge.

Key Perspectives

Conservative party: Suspended Ross immediately pending an investigation. It has declined further comment while the investigation continues.

Police Scotland: Aware of the documentary and will review and assess it for any criminality.

Ross: Al Jazeera reports he completely denied the allegations, saying his remarks were not meant seriously. He was approached for comment by the Guardian but no further response has been reported.

Nick Tenconi: Filmed discussing plans to use football hooligans to stir up trouble. He was also approached for comment.

What to Watch

Whether Police Scotland launch a formal criminal investigation
The outcome of the Conservative party's internal investigation and the duration of the suspension
Any further fallout for Turning Point UK or for individuals linked to the group within the party

Sources

Former Tory election candidate suspended over contract killing claims · World news | The Guardian

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedA former Tory candidate was suspended after allegedly discussing contract killings.World news | The Guardian: “A former Conservative election candidate has been suspended from the party after he was seemingly filmed discussing the cost of hiring contract killers”
SupportedThe suspension is pending an investigation, and undercover footage appeared to show Ross offering violent options for hire.World news | The Guardian: “A Conservative party spokesperson said: “Mr Ross’s membership of the Conservative party has been suspended with immediate effect pending an investigation.””
Partly supportedRoss reportedly paid thousands of pounds to the Glasgow activist to organise a fake political rally.World news | The Guardian: “The meeting took place after Ross, apparently acting on behalf of the Zimbabwean government, had reportedly paid thousands of pounds to the Glasgow activist to organise a fake political rally”
Partly supportedTurning Point UK is a spin-off from a US-based group founded by Charlie Kirk.World news | The Guardian: “Ross is the chief executive of Turning Point UK, a spin-off from the campaign group founded by the murdered US Republican commentator Charlie Kirk.”
SupportedRoss apparently asked an undercover reporter, “What do you want done?”World news | The Guardian: “Jack Ross was filmed apparently asking an undercover reporter “What do you want done?””
SupportedRoss listed kicking, cutting faces, stabbing, shooting and killing as violent options that could be bought.World news | The Guardian: “Ross appeared to tell the Al Jazeera journalist: “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.””
SupportedRoss introduced the undercover reporter to a Glasgow criminal with links to the Ulster Volunteer Force who offered to arrange killings.World news | The Guardian: “Ross was reported by Al Jazeera to have introduced an undercover reporter to a violent criminal from Glasgow with links to the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force, who offers to have people killed for money.”
SupportedAl Jazeera reported that Ross completely denied its findings and said his remarks were not meant seriously.World news | The Guardian: “Al Jazeera reported that Ross had “completely” denied its investigation’s findings, claiming that everything he said to the undercover reporter was not meant seriously.”
SupportedNick Tenconi is Turning Point UK’s chief operating officer and the UK Independence party’s leader, and was filmed with Ross discussing using football hooligans to stir up trouble.World news | The Guardian: “Its chief operating officer is Nick Tenconi, the leader of the far-right UK Independence party”
SupportedThe Conservative party spokesperson said Ross’s membership was suspended with immediate effect pending investigation and that the party could not comment further.World news | The Guardian: “A Conservative party spokesperson said: “Mr Ross’s membership of the Conservative party has been suspended with immediate effect pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while the investigation is ongoing.””
SupportedA Police Scotland spokesperson said the documentary would be reviewed and assessed for any criminality.World news | The Guardian: “A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the documentary. It will be reviewed and assessed for any criminality.””