Secretary of State for Culture faces ethics probe over football regulator appointment
CULTURE Secretary Lisa Nandy was tonight scolded over appointing one of her donors as chair of the new football regulator, reports BritPanorama.
An ethics probe has determined that Nandy breached the governance code by failing to declare that David Kogan had contributed £2,900 to her unsuccessful party leadership campaign. This brought into question the appropriateness of his appointment.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reprimanded Nandy for not meeting the “standard expected” from senior ministers but did not take further action against her. This incident marks the second ethical controversy involving a Cabinet member in recent weeks, following Rachel Reeves’ unlawful renting scandal.
Despite the findings of the probe stating three breaches of the Governance Code regarding Kogan’s appointment, he will still assume the role of head of the incoming football regulator. Nandy’s first breach involved the failure to disclose donations made by Kogan during her 2020 leadership bid. The ethics commissioner, Sir William Shawcross, noted that Kogan’s longstanding ties with the Labour party meant Nandy should have investigated these financial contributions more thoroughly.
Nandy expressed her regret over the situation, stating, “I deeply regret this error. I appreciate the perception it could create, but it was not deliberate and I apologise for it.” The investigation also revealed that her department neglected to address potential conflicts of interest with Kogan during his interview and failed to disclose his historical connections to the Labour party, to which he has donated a total of £33,410.
The ongoing scrutiny of ministerial conduct highlights a sustained focus on ethics within the UK government as it seeks to maintain public trust in its officials.
