Lisa Nandy Defended in ‘cronyism’ Row Over Appointment of Football Regulator

Background on the Appointment Controversy

The controversy surrounding the appointment of David Kogan as the independent football regulator began when it was revealed that Kogan had received undisclosed donations from Lisa Nandy, who was then in opposition. These donations amounted to £2,900 during her 2020 leadership campaign. The revelation led to an investigation by Sir William Shawcross, the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Appointment and Breach of Code

In October 2025, David Kogan was appointed as the football regulator. However, his appointment became contentious following the discovery of his donations to Lisa Nandy’s campaign. The Commissioner for Public Appointments reported that three breaches of the governance code had occurred. These included:
– Failure by Lisa Nandy to disclose her receipt of donations from Kogan.
– Lack of disclosure regarding potential conflicts of interest during Kogan’s interview process.
– Non-disclosure of Kogan’s connections with LabourList, an independent news site, and his authorship of books about the Labour Party.

Responses and Reactions

Lisa Nandy issued a letter to the prime minister, acknowledging her mistake but emphasizing that it was not deliberate. She stated, “I deeply regret this error. I appreciate the perception it could create, but it was not deliberate and I apologise for it.” Additionally, she explained her steps taken before the appointment process began to ensure compliance with the code.

Government’s Response

Steve Reed, the housing secretary, defended Lisa Nandy’s actions, saying that she had apologized and that there was no intent to bypass the rules. Reed stated, “As soon as she found out, she took the appropriate action and the independent investigator has confirmed that.”

Political Implications and Future Actions

The appointment of David Kogan as the football regulator has drawn criticism from the Conservatives, who accused Labour of engaging in cronyism. Shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston called for the immediate withdrawal of the appointment, arguing that it was “completely untenable.” He stated, “This appointment bears all the hallmarks of Labour cronyism.”

Labour’s Defense and Next Steps

Lisa Nandy defended her actions, stating in a letter to Sir Keir that she had acted in good faith. She wrote, “I welcome the clear recognition that I did not know about two donations I received as a leadership candidate in 2020, when I was a backbench opposition MP, and that as soon as I discovered these donations existed, I chose to declare them and recuse myself from the process.”
David Kogan himself stated that he had cooperated fully throughout the investigation and looked forward to moving on with his role. He said, “I have cooperated fully throughout the investigation and can now draw a line under the process. As the commissioner states, my suitability for the role has never been in question and at no point was I aware of any deviation from best practice.”

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding Lisa Nandy’s appointment decision highlights the stringent rules governing public appointments to ensure transparency and integrity within government roles. The incident underscores the need for thorough due diligence and disclosure practices, especially when dealing with potential conflicts of interest. As the investigation into the breach of governance codes continues, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken in response to the findings.