At the Lobby briefing of political journalists the Prime Minister’s spokesman did not deny that Starmer – who loves football freebies – was ever recused from decisions or appointments relating to football regulation. He said in relation to the appointment of David Kogan:
“Number 10 is engaged on a raft of appointments across the board… that decision was made by the Sports Minister.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman did not deny that Starmer had received written and/or verbal advice from the Cabinet Office’s Propriety and Ethics Team relating to recusal from football regulation:
“As is standard practice we would never get into advice received.”
Downing Street’s line is that Kogan’s was “not a PM-made appointment.” Downing Street knows Starmer should not have been involved…
This is a written process with a paper trail. If Starmer was advised not to make decisions relating to football regulation and still gave his formal approval to the appointment of personal donor David Kogan to the football regulator, that would be a significant breach in propriety…
