Background
The BBC has reported that Jack Ross, a Tory activist recently linked in public claims to the description of a "contract killing broker", had been engaged on a contract to carry out social media work for Conservative Party headquarters until earlier this year. The broadcaster said it was told of the arrangement but did not provide further detail about the nature or duration of the contract.
Contract work for party HQ
According to the BBC account, Ross was not a permanent staffer but was contracted to support social media activity for the party. The report does not indicate whether his contract was with a third-party firm or directly with party structures, nor does it specify when exactly the contract ended beyond saying it ran until earlier this year.
Allegations and verification
The claim that Ross was a "contract killing broker" is a serious allegation reported in media coverage; the BBC report frames it as a claim and it has not been independently verified in that account. Details about the origin of the allegation and any evidence supporting it were not set out in the broadcaster's reporting.
Questions for the party
It is not clear from available reporting whether Conservative Party headquarters was aware of the allegation prior to it being made public, or what, if any, internal checks were conducted on contractors performing digital or communications work. The developments are likely to prompt further scrutiny of contractor vetting and oversight within political party operations as inquiries continue.