Keir Starmer has acknowledged making a regrettable mistake to the head of ethics regarding the selection of the chairman for England’s football regulatory body. Despite abstaining from the process, the Prime Minister expressed his support for the appointment of Labour donor David Kogan in April 2025 after receiving a briefing note. Starmer had previously refrained from participating in decisions due to receiving hospitality from football clubs on multiple occasions.
Furthermore, Starmer had received two donations from Kogan during his campaign for the Labour leadership race in 2020. This oversight occurred shortly after Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy apologized for breaching a code related to the same appointment, where she failed to disclose Kogan’s donations to her leadership campaign.
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, leading to his agreement to abstain from decisions concerning the Football Governance Bill since Autumn 2024. However, in April 2025, he was informed via a note about the Culture Secretary’s intention to appoint Kogan as the inaugural Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, to which Starmer expressed his support. Reflecting on the situation, Starmer expressed regret for his involvement and acknowledged the error.
In response, Sir Laurie described it as unfortunate that the Prime Minister had been engaged in the appointment process despite his recusal. He commended Starmer for openly discussing the matter, emphasizing the importance of transparent processes and the need for internal reviews to enhance standards in public life.