Keir Starmer admits 'unfortunate error' in row over giving £130k job to Labour donor

Sir Keir Starmer was accused of "yet more scandal" in a row over the appointment of a Labour donor to a new £130,000-a-year football regulator job. In a letter to his ethics adviser, the Prime Minister admitted he made an "unfortunate error" by signing off the appointment of David Kogan.

Sir Keir expressed his "sincere regret" for approving the Labour backer despite previously recusing himself from the process because of his interest in the sport and football-related hospitality he had received. In his letter to Sir Laurie Magnus, he said: "In April 2025, a note was submitted to me informing me that, after running the appointment process, the Culture Secretary wanted to appoint David Kogan as the inaugural Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Select Committee.

"The note asked me whether I was content. I confirmed that I was supportive.

"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."

Sir Keir added he had asked his officials to carry out an internal review of the processes by which recusals are managed in No 10.

The Conservatives had demanded a probe into whether Sir Keir risked a conflict of interest after an independent investigation found Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had "unknowingly" breached the public appointments code by failing to declare £2,900 in donations from Mr Kogan in 2020.

The former media executive also donated to Sir Keir's Labour leadership campaign in 2020 and to his constituency party in the run-up to last year's general election.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: "Keir Starmer himself has been caught offside signing off on the appointment of a major donor to a powerful new role.

"This isn't just sloppy; it's a serious lapse of judgment from a man who promised integrity and transparency - and potentially another a serious breach of the rules.

"It's yet more scandal right at the heart of his Government. Amidst open civil war in the Labour Party, it is clear the Prime Minister doesn't have the backbone to control his own administration or simply doesn't care. The British public deserve to know which it is."

In his reply to Sir Keir, Sir Laurie said: "It is regrettable, as you say in your letter, that despite the recusal we agreed in autumn 2024 concerning the Football Governance Bill, you were asked to confirm that you were content with the proposed appointment recommended by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in line with her statutory responsibilities as the appointing authority.

"It is important that robust processes for the management of recusals are in place in No 10 and I welcome the internal review you have commissioned in this connection.

"I consider that the disclosures made in your letter are an important demonstration of your commitment to transparency and to ensuring that mistakes are acknowledged and necessary steps taken to improve processes underpinning standards in public life."