Lisa Nandy apologises for breaking rules on football regulator appointment

Lisa Nandy apologises for breaking rules on football regulator appointment

The Secretary of Culture has issued an apology for a breach of rules after failing to disclose donations she received from the man she selected to lead England’s new soccer regulator. Recently, the commissioner for public appointments released a report stating that David Kogan had made two separate donations of £1,450 to Lisa Nandy during her campaign to become the leader of the Labour Party in 2020. In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Nandy admitted to falling short of the highest standards, taking responsibility for the oversight.

Following the revelations, the Conservative Party condemned Nandy’s actions as a serious violation of public trust and called for an additional inquiry into Sir Keir Starmer, who also received contributions from Mr Kogan. Despite the controversy, Mr. Kogan emphasized that his suitability for the role had never been in doubt, unaware of any deviations from best practices. He initially appeared on the longlist for the football regulator position during the previous Conservative administration.

Lisa Nandy became involved in the selection process after the Labour Party secured victory in the 2024 general election, appointing her as Secretary of Culture. In April, she announced Mr. Kogan as her preferred candidate for the £130,000-per-year post. However, she stepped back from the process a month later when Mr. Kogan revealed his past donations to her during a parliamentary committee hearing. In his report, the commissioner for public appointments highlighted Nandy’s unintentional breach of the code, emphasizing the importance of verifying potential appointees’ financial interactions.

Sir William Shawcross underscored the significance of declaring financial interests to mitigate the risk of potential perceptions of biased decision-making. The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport was found to have breached regulations by not disclosing Mr. Kogan’s donations to Labour during his selection process. Looking forward, the football regulator is tasked with enhancing the financial stability of clubs and preserving the heritage of English football as outlined in a fan-led review of football club management

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