Keir Starmer has apologised for signing off on the appointment of David Kogan as chair of England’s new Independent Football Regulator, after it emerged Kogan had donated to the prime minister.
In a letter to Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, Starmer said he had made an “unfortunate error” in green-lighting the appointment despite having recused himself from the process.
He also said he had asked officials to carry out an internal review of the processes by which recusals are managed in No.10.
The letter explained that Starmer had recused himself from decisions related to the football governance bill, which paved the way for the new regulator, on account of his interest in football and having received hospitality from clubs and the Football Association. “I have not participated in any decisions relating to this bill in accordance with that agreement,” the PM said.
He said he had received a note in April informing him that Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, wanted to appoint Kogan as the inaugural chair of the new watchdog, and asking if he was content with the pick.
“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,” Starmer wrote.
“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.”
During Kogan’s pre-appointment hearing for the role, it emerged that Kogan had donated to Starmer’s Labour leadership campaign in 2020, and had also donated money to his constituency party.
The prime minister said he had discussed the donations with Magnus in June. “We agreed that the recusal I agreed in autumn 2024 should include measures to guard against any perception of conflict. On that basis, we agreed that I should stay out of the appointment process and I have not taken or approved any decisions in relation to the appointment of Mr Kogan since then,” he said.
The news comes after an inquiry by the commissioner for public appointments, Sir William Shawcross, found last week that Nandy had breached the governance code on public appointments in failing to declare that Kogan had donated to her Labour Party leadership campaign.
Shawcross also found the Department for Culture, Media and Sport had breached the rules in failing to disclose Kogan's political activity when he was announced as the government’s preferred candidate.
The inquiry was triggered after Kogan said, during his pre-appointment hearing with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in May, that he had made “very small” donations to Nandy and Starmer’s Labour leadership campaigns in 2020.
Shawcross announced a “full inquiry” into the appointment in June. However, DCMS confirmed Kogan as chair last month, before the inquiry was completed.
The inquiry also identified a third breach of public appointments rules, in that a potential conflict of interest was not discussed with Kogan at the interview for the role. Shawcross did not attribute blame to any party for this breach.
His inquiry did not look at Starmer's involvement in the decision.
In a letter replying to the prime minister, Magnus said it was “regrettable” that Starmer had been asked to confirm he was happy with Kogan’s appointment.
“It is important that robust processes for the management of recusals are in place in No.10 and I welcome the internal review you have commissioned in this connection,” he said.
“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.”
Magnus also said he wanted to “place on record my appreciation of the open discussions we have had in relation to this matter – a relationship of trust that is essential to enable me to undertake my responsibilities as your adviser”.