Sir Keir Starmer has expressed “sincere regret” over signing off the appointment of a Labour donor as the first chair of England’s new football regulator.
In a letter to his ethics adviser on Wednesday, the prime minister said he made an “unfortunate error” in signing off the appointment of David Kogan, having recused himself from decisions related to the process due to his interest in football.
It comes after Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy apologised following an independent investigation last week that found that she had “unknowingly” breached the public appointments code by failing to declare £2,900 in donations from Mr Kogan in 2020.
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The former media executive also donated to Sir Keir’s Labour leadership campaign in 2020 and to his constituency party in the run-up to last year’s general election.
The prime minister wrote in his letter to his ethics advisers, Sir Laurie Magnus, explaining that he had agreed to “recuse myself from decisions relating to the Football Governance Bill” in autumn 2024 because of his interest in football, and football-related hospitality he had received.
However, he continued: “In April 2025, a note was submitted to me informing me that, after running the appointment process, the Culture Secretary wanted to appoint David Kogan as the inaugural chair of the Independent Football Regulator, subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Select Committee.
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“The note asked me whether I was content. I confirmed that I was supportive.
“I knew that the decision was for the Secretary of State to take and I replied on the basis that the decision had been taken.
“In retrospect, it would have been better if I had not been given the note or confirmed that I was content with the appointment. This was an unfortunate error for which I express my sincere regret.”
The prime minister added that he has asked his officials to carry out an internal review of the processes by which recusals are managed in No 10.
Sir Laurie wrote in his reply that Sir Keir’s involvement was “regrettable” in light of his recusal, and welcomed the internal review.
He added: “I consider that the disclosures made in your letter are an important demonstration of your commitment to transparency and to ensuring that mistakes are acknowledged and necessary steps taken to improve processes underpinning standards in public life.”
Downing Street insisted on Tuesday the appointment had been made by the Culture Secretary, not the prime minister.
Mr Kogan was confirmed as the new head of the Independent Football Regulator in October, after being named the government’s preferred candidate in April. He had originally been approached about the job by the previous Conservative government under Rishi Sunak.
However, the Tories say the prime minister has been “caught offside signing off on the appointment of a major donor to a powerful new role”.
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Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: “This isn’t just sloppy; it’s a serious lapse of judgment from a man who promised integrity and transparency – and potentially another serious breach of the rules.
“It’s yet more scandal right at the heart of his Government. Amidst open civil war in the Labour Party, it is clear the prime minister doesn’t have the backbone to control his own administration or simply doesn’t care.”
