Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a formal apology for what he describes as an "unfortunate error" in approving the appointment of a significant Labour donor to a prominent position overseeing English football.
The Appointment Controversy
In a letter addressed to his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, the Prime Minister expressed "sincere regret" for signing off David Kogan as the inaugural chair of England's new Independent Football Regulator. This admission follows an independent investigation that revealed Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had "unknowingly" breached the public appointments code by failing to declare £2,900 in donations received from Mr Kogan in 2020.
The situation became particularly problematic because Sir Keir had previously recused himself from all decisions relating to the Football Governance Bill in autumn 2024. This recusal was implemented due to the Prime Minister's well-documented interest in football and his receipt of football-related hospitality.
How the Process Unfolded
Despite his recusal, in April 2025, a note was submitted to the Prime Minister informing him that the Culture Secretary wanted to appoint Mr Kogan following the completion of the appointment process. The note specifically asked whether Sir Keir was content with the proposed appointment, to which he replied that he was supportive.
In his explanatory letter, Sir Keir stated: "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. 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."
Political Fallout and Responses
The controversy has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart declared: "This isn't just sloppy; it's a serious lapse of judgment from a man who promised integrity and transparency - and potentially another serious breach of the rules." The Conservatives have accused the Prime Minister of being "caught offside" in approving a major donor to a powerful new role.
Sir Laurie Magnus responded to the Prime Minister's letter by acknowledging that Sir Keir's involvement was "regrettable" given his recusal. However, he welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to transparency and his announcement of an internal review of how recusals are managed within Number 10.
Mr Kogan, a former media executive, has a history of financial support for the Labour Party, having donated to Sir Keir's leadership campaign in 2020 and to his constituency party before last year's general election. Interestingly, he had originally been approached about the football regulator position by the previous Conservative government under Rishi Sunak.
Downing Street has maintained that the appointment was ultimately made by the Culture Secretary, not the Prime Minister, and Mr Kogan was confirmed as the new head of the Independent Football Regulator in October after being named the government's preferred candidate in April.
