Minister Forced to Apologise Over Donation Scandal
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has been compelled to issue a public apology after an independent investigation found she breached the public appointments code by failing to declare political donations from David Kogan, who has since been appointed as the new football regulator.
Breach of Appointment Rules
The investigation concluded that Ms Nandy had 'unknowingly' breached the public appointments code by not declaring she received donations totalling £2,900 from Mr Kogan. This occurred despite the fact that the funding given to Labour by Mr Kogan was actually discussed during his interview for the £130,000 per year role as football regulator.
Following the investigation's findings, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer reprimanded his Culture Secretary, stating that 'the process followed was not entirely up to the standard expected' while acknowledging she had 'acted in good faith'.
Conservative Demands for Further Investigation
The Conservative Party has now demanded a fresh sleaze probe into the matter. Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake has written to Daniel Greenberg, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, calling for an investigation into how Mr Kogan was appointed 'without disclosing his significant donations' to Ms Nandy.
Mr Hollinrake highlighted that Ms Nandy had registered two separate donations in 2020 - one from David Kogan for £1,450 and another from David Kogan Ltd for £1,450. While individually below the £1,500 declaration threshold, Mr Hollinrake argued these were 'clearly' from the same source and suggested there might have been an attempt to 'conceal' the total gift.
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, Ms Nandy stated: 'I've said hands up, this was not a perfect process, and all of those mistakes, I take full responsibility for. I apologise for them and, more importantly, I'll put in place processes to make sure that doesn't happen again.'
Mr Kogan, who will work three days a week in his new role, has since committed to being 'completely politically impartial' and confirmed he has 'ended all connections with the Labour Party' while reaching out to opposition parties to discuss the regulator's politically neutral work.
