The Conservative Party has called for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to face a standards investigation after Labour donor David Kogan was named the government’s preferred candidate to head

England’s new football watchdog.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy was found to have “unknowingly” breached public appointment rules by failing to declare that Kogan had donated to her 2020 Labour leadership campaign before she endorsed him for the role. The Conservatives now argue that Starmer had “exactly the same conflict of interest,” as Kogan also contributed to his leadership bid.

Downing Street rejected the claims, pointing to the findings of the Independent Commissioner for Public Appointments, which identified no further breaches beyond Nandy’s oversight.

Donations and oversight

Nandy announced Kogan, a sports rights executive, as the government’s preferred chair of the new football regulator in April. She later recused herself from the appointment process after Kogan disclosed to MPs that he had given “very small sums” to both her and Starmer during the 2020 Labour leadership race.

According to a report released on Thursday by Public Appointments Commissioner Sir William Shawcross, Kogan donated two payments of £1,450 to Nandy’s campaign—one personal, one via his company—forming part of more than £33,000 in donations he directed to Labour and its candidates over five years.

While the sums fell below the thresholds requiring declaration to the Electoral Commission or Parliament, Shawcross said Nandy should have checked whether the candidate had made contributions and taken any “necessary consequential action,” noting the donations created a potential perception of conflict.

Nandy apologised, writing to the prime minister that she “deeply regretted” the oversight. Starmer replied that she had acted “in good faith” and that the commissioner had confirmed the breach was unintentional.

Pressure on the Prime Minister

The commissioner did not disclose the total Kogan gave to Starmer’s 2020 campaign, though transparency records show a separate £2,500 donation to Starmer’s local party branch last May.

Nandy was the formal appointing authority for the regulator role, but it is listed by the government as one in which the prime minister has a “strong interest.” Shawcross’s report shows that Kogan’s appointment was ultimately “cleared” by Downing Street following a request for “final approval.”

The Conservatives have now asked Starmer’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, to investigate whether the prime minister’s involvement—and his decision to support Nandy—breached ministerial transparency rules.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart wrote to Magnus: *“If Ms Nandy recused herself from involvement in this appointment, shouldn’t the prime minister have done the same? Isn’t the prime minister complicit in exactly the same conflict of interest?”

Kogan responds

Kogan was first longlisted for the role under the previous Conservative government, though the process was paused when last year’s general election was called. Shawcross said Kogan initially withdrew in November before being re-selected as an external candidate.

In a statement, Kogan said he had “cooperated fully” and welcomed the conclusion of the inquiry. “My suitability for the role has never been in question,” he said. “It is now time to move on and get on with the business of setting up the Independent Football Regulator.”

A government spokesperson said ministers followed the correct procedures, noting that the commissioner’s review had identified no breaches beyond those detailed in the report. Photo by Weloc, Wikimedia commons.