Keir Starmer has acknowledged an oversight in his communication with the ethics chief regarding the selection of the chairman for England’s football regulator.
Despite abstaining from the process, the Prime Minister expressed his approval of the appointment of Labour donor David Kogan, following a notification received in April 2025. Starmer had previously refrained from involvement in decisions due to receiving hospitality from football clubs on multiple occasions.
Furthermore, Starmer had received two contributions from Kogan during his campaign for the Labour leadership in 2020. This incident occurred shortly after Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy issued an apology for breaching a code related to the same appointment.
In a letter released by No10, Starmer informed ethics chief Sir Laurie Magnus that he had previously disclosed receiving hospitality from football clubs and the Football Association on several occasions. He stated that he agreed to recuse himself from decisions concerning the Football Governance Bill in autumn 2024 and had not partaken in any related decisions as per their agreement.
However, in April 2025, Starmer received a note indicating the Culture Secretary’s intention to appoint David Kogan as the inaugural Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, subject to scrutiny by the Select Committee. Starmer confirmed his support for the appointment, expressing regret in retrospect for not abstaining from the decision.
In response, Sir Laurie deemed it regrettable that the Prime Minister had become involved in the appointment process despite his recusal. He commended Starmer for his commitment to transparency by discussing the incident openly.
Sir Laurie emphasized the importance of robust recusal management processes within No 10 and welcomed the internal review initiated by Starmer. He viewed Starmer’s disclosures as a positive step towards transparency and enhancing standards in public life.
