Lisa Nandy Broke Rules by Appointing Donor as Football Regulator

Published: 07 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has been found to have breached ethics rules after failing to declare that the man she appointed as chair of the Independent Football Regulator had previously donated to her leadership campaign, an investigation by the Commissioner for Public Appointments has revealed.

Sir William Shawcross, the Commissioner, concluded that Nandy violated the “integrity” principle of the governance code on public appointments. The report, published on Thursday, found that the Culture Secretary did not verify whether David Kogan, a media executive nominated for the position, had contributed to her 2020 bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader. While Nandy has apologised, the findings have prompted widespread debate over transparency, cronyism, and ethical standards in public appointments.

Nandy told the Prime Minister and the Labour leadership that she had not been aware of Kogan’s donations at the time of the appointment. “I deeply regret this error. It was not deliberate, and I took immediate steps to recuse myself as soon as I discovered these donations existed,” she said. She emphasised that she had carried out extensive checks prior to the appointment, including reviewing the Electoral Commission and Parliamentary registers, and consulting with former campaign staff. However, these measures had failed to identify Kogan’s contributions.

The appointment controversy comes amid a difficult period for the Labour Party regarding public ethics. Only weeks earlier, Chancellor Rachel Reeves had apologised for housing-related rule breaches, and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned following revelations about her tax affairs. Critics say Nandy’s case underscores persistent concerns over the party’s adherence to high standards of accountability and governance.

David Kogan, the appointee, had made two small donations totaling £2,900 to Nandy’s leadership campaign and confirmed that he also contributed to Sir Keir Starmer’s campaign. Following the investigation, Nandy stood aside from giving final approval for the appointment to avoid any perception of conflict of interest.

The Prime Minister, attending an international environment summit in Brazil, acknowledged that the breach was unintentional and praised Nandy for acting in good faith. “I know Lisa Nandy to be a person of integrity. The error was unknowing, and she acted swiftly to step back from the appointment when the perception of a conflict arose,” he said. He also welcomed her department’s commitment to reviewing and improving guidance on managing conflicts of interest in public appointments.

The Commissioner’s report highlighted three distinct breaches. First, Nandy had failed to consider whether Kogan’s political donations might influence her decision-making before recommending him as the government’s preferred candidate. Second, the potential conflict of interest was not discussed with Kogan during the interview process. Third, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport did not adequately disclose Kogan’s political affiliations, including his Labour Party ties. Although the report made clear that these breaches were not deliberate, it emphasised that they created a significant perception of impropriety.

Kogan has fully cooperated with the investigation and maintained that his suitability for the role of chair of the Independent Football Regulator was never in question. “At no point was I aware of any deviation from best practice,” he said. “It is now time to move on and focus on establishing the IFR to address urgent and critical issues in football.”

Opposition politicians have been critical of the appointment process. Nigel Huddleston, the Conservative shadow culture secretary, described the case as a “serious breach of public trust” and demanded that the appointment be rescinded. He argued that the decision to appoint a major Labour Party donor with ties to Nandy and Starmer demonstrated cronyism at the highest levels and raised serious questions about judgment and transparency within the party. “If Labour is serious about integrity and accountability, this appointment must be withdrawn immediately,” he said, calling the decision “untenable” in light of three separate breaches identified by the Commissioner.

Labour figures defended the appointment, pointing to Kogan’s qualifications and experience in media and governance. A spokesperson for Nandy highlighted that she had acted in good faith, conducted due diligence to the best of her ability, and recused herself from the final decision once the donations were discovered. They argued that the breach was technical rather than intentional and that Kogan remained a suitable candidate for the position.

The case has sparked broader discussions about public appointments in the UK, highlighting the need for greater transparency and checks to prevent conflicts of interest. The Commissioner’s report noted that public confidence in government appointments relies not only on the integrity of individual officials but also on robust systems that ensure impartiality and prevent even the perception of favoritism.

Public reaction has been mixed. While some defend Nandy’s integrity and view the breach as an administrative oversight, others see the episode as emblematic of a wider problem in politics, where personal and political ties can influence decisions affecting public institutions. Experts say this underscores the importance of reforming appointment procedures to strengthen transparency, clarify responsibilities, and ensure accountability for senior government officials.

In addition to focusing on the appointment process, the controversy has drawn attention to the governance of football in the UK. The Independent Football Regulator, which Kogan is set to chair, is tasked with overseeing key issues in the sport, including fan rights, safety, and financial integrity. Ensuring that the leadership of such a body is free from political influence is considered crucial to maintaining trust among clubs, players, and supporters.

The Labour Party faces scrutiny as critics argue that repeated incidents involving senior figures risk undermining public confidence in its commitment to ethical governance. With high-profile appointments and political donations under close observation, parties across the political spectrum are being urged to adopt stricter compliance measures, enhance transparency, and ensure that public office is never seen as a vehicle for political favoritism.

As the debate continues, both supporters and critics await further clarification on how the Labour Party will address systemic weaknesses in public appointment processes. The incident has also renewed calls for independent oversight of appointments and for improved mechanisms to prevent even unintentional conflicts of interest from influencing high-profile decisions.

The outcome of this controversy may have lasting implications not only for Nandy and Kogan but for broader standards of governance, transparency, and integrity in UK public life. The challenge for Labour is to demonstrate that breaches, however unintended, can be addressed decisively, ensuring that public trust in appointments, and in politics more generally, is maintained.