Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has acknowledged breaching public appointment rules after failing to disclose a financial connection with David Kogan, the Government’s preferred candidate for chair of the new Independent Football Regulator. Nandy admitted she “unknowingly” violated the Governance Code by not declaring that Kogan donated £2,900 to her leadership campaign in 2020, following an investigation into the appointments process.
The inquiry was prompted by complaints from the Conservative Party regarding Kogan’s donations to both Nandy and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. The probe, conducted by Sir William Shawcross, the commissioner for public appointments, revealed multiple breaches in the appointment process. Notably, Kogan’s political donations to the Labour Party, totaling £33,410 over five years, were not disclosed, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
In a letter to Starmer, Nandy expressed regret for her oversight, stating, “I deeply regret this error.” She emphasized that her failure to disclose Kogan’s donations was unintentional and assured that she had taken steps to verify any financial contributions before the appointment process began. Nandy stated she consulted the Electoral Commission and made inquiries with former campaign staff, but these efforts did not reveal the donations in question.
The Prime Minister responded to Nandy’s apology, acknowledging that the commissioner’s findings indicated her actions were unknowing and that there was no intent to undermine the Governance Code. He reiterated that the appointment process fell short of the expected standards and welcomed her department’s commitment to cooperate with future investigations to enhance guidance on managing conflicts of interest.
Kogan, a media rights expert, responded to the inquiry’s findings by asserting that he had never been aware of any deviations from best practices during the appointment process. He expressed his desire to move forward and focus on establishing the Independent Football Regulator, which aims to address pressing issues within the sport.
The report, published on Thursday, highlighted the necessity for transparency in public appointments, particularly when political donations are involved. The commissioner noted that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport should have publicly disclosed Kogan’s political contributions during the announcement of his candidacy.
As the situation unfolds, both Nandy and Kogan are keen to put the matter behind them and concentrate on their respective roles in shaping the future of football governance in the UK. The Independent Football Regulator is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring fair practices within the sport moving forward.
