Overview
- An independent report by public appointments commissioner Sir William Shawcross found the process that led to David Kogan’s appointment in October breached the code, including failures to disclose his political activity.
- Lisa Nandy was found to have unknowingly breached the code by not declaring two 2020 donations from Kogan totalling £2,900, prompting her unreserved apology, recusal from the process, and a reprimand from Sir Keir Starmer.
- The Conservative Party has written to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg and ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus seeking further probes into Nandy’s non‑disclosure and potential conflicts involving the Prime Minister.
- Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake questioned two £1,450 payments to Nandy’s 2020 leadership campaign, saying the sub‑threshold sums from Kogan and David Kogan Ltd appeared split to avoid disclosure rules.
- Kogan said he had been transparent, provided the government with a full list of donations, and was unaware of any departure from best practice, noting the selection process began under the previous Conservative government.