Keir Starmer has written to ethics adviser Laurie Magnus to express his “regret” over approving the appointment of David Kogan as chair of the football regulator, despite accepting donations from Kogan during his leadership campaign. As Guido revealed on Monday...
Starmer wrote:
“I agreed with you in Autumn 2024 that I would recuse myself from decisions relating to the Football Governance Bill. I have not participated in any decisions relating to this Bill in accordance with that agreement. 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….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.”
Yesterday Downing Street refused to deny Starmer – who loves football freebies – was ever recused from decisions or appointments relating to football regulation. Magnus replied: “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.” Number 10 has nonetheless spent the week trying to insist it was a DCMS appointment. Now, not so much…
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