Theyre the elite Met Police unit used to protect everything from royalty to world leaders. But now Labour has been blasted after allegedly pressganging Scotland Yard into using them to escort Taylor Swift for the London leg of her Eras Tour.
The Metropolitan Police was reportedly reluctant to grant the singer, 34, a taxpayer-funded blue-light convoy to her sell-out Wembley show - a service usually served for prime ministers, senior royals and top diplomats.
But Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan reportedly stepped in to ensure the pop princess was guarded by the Special Escort Group, amid security fears over a failed suicide bomb plot at Swifts Austria gig in August.
The news comes just six months after Prince Harry lost his High Court challenge against the Home Office after losing his right to police protection when he stepped down as a working royal, which included a similar police convoy.
A High Court judge ruled the Duke of Sussex - who lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle, 43, and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three - had comprehensively lost a frankly hopeless bid to appeal against a Home Office decision about his UK security.
The Met Polices Special Escort Group of elite motorbike riders. Pictured is Taylor Swifts motorcade being escorted by police during her gig in Edinburgh. She received similar protection in London
Taylor Swift (pictured) was given a taxpayer-funded blue-light convoy to her Wembley gigs earlier this year
Prince Harry (Pictured leaving the High Court) was refused protection from the elite Met Police team following a court ruling earlier this year
Reserved for guarding motorcades carrying members of the Royal Family and world leaders, the high-profile team of elite cops includes armed motorcycle riders equipped with Glock 17 pistols.
Officers from the SEG also escort some of Britains most dangerous prisoners and are trained in firearms tactics, anti-hijack driving and are often seen riding ahead of motorcades to stop traffic.
Billionaire Bad Blood singer Swift and her entourage was seen arriving at her most recent Wembley show with a blue-light police escort.
Meanwhile, 10 top Labour Party members - which included the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting - bagged free tickets to Swifts gigs, sparking a fierce backlash.
And as a row rumbles on over why the force was used to protect Swift but not Prince Harry, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy this morning insisted the police escort for the Shake It Off star was not the result of undue influence from top Labour politicians.
Ms Nandy - who was among high-profile figures from the party to receive free tickets to Swifts Eras tour show - said there was no link between the hospitality they received and Swifts police protection.
I utterly reject that theres been any kind of wrongdoing or undue influence in this case, she told Sky News.
Meanwhile senior Labour figures - including PM Sir Keir Starmer - were given free tickets to Swifts show. Sir Keir is pictured with wife Victoria at a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley in June
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also bagged free tickets. He is pictured unveiling Swiftie Steps and new murals at Wembley Park in June ahead of Taylor Swifts first concert in London
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) and London Mayor Sadiq Khan reportedly stepped in to ensure Ms Swift received an exemption from the forces Special Escort Group
The London mayor received six tickets from the Football Association to attend one of Taylor Swifts sell-out Wembley Stadium concerts in August this year
Pictured are officers protecting a convoy carrying King Charles, the Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla back in May 2021
She said the Home Secretary would be involved in discussions around the security risk, particularly given that Swifts shows in Vienna were axed due to the foiled terror attack.
Ms Nandy added: When you have major events, whether in London or in other parts of the UK, the Home Secretary will be involved in a conversation where there is a security risk.
I also know that she doesnt have the power, nor would she use the power, to insist that any individual got the top level of private security arrangements. That is an operational matter for the police, not for the Government.
The police made the decision. Ultimately, it is their decision, and nobody else can make it.
A week after a foiled terror attack plot in Vienna, Austria, against Ms Swift, her mother and manager Andrea reportedly threatened to stop the UK August performances if a Met convoy from Wembley to her hotel was not delivered.
After the SEGs initial refusal, it is understood the office of Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley intervened.
Sources claim Ms Cooper stressed to police that any cancellation would be economically damaging and embarrassing.
But Ms Nandy told Sky News: What I can tell you is that neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Secretary, nor the Mayor of London has the power to override the police on this matter. It is an operational decision for the police.
Top Labour figures were last night accused of pressing Scotland Yard to give Taylor Swift police protection for the London leg of her Eras Tour - Swift is pictured performing on stage at Wembley
A week after a foiled terror attack plot in Vienna, her mother and manager Andrea (pictured right with Taylor) reportedly threatened to stop the UK August performances if a Met convoy from Wembley to her hotel was not delivered
They can put their own view. Thats certainly the case. But you would expect the Home Secretary and the mayor of the city where this event is taking place, given the history of what had just happened in Vienna, to be involved in the conversation about security arrangements.
Labour continues to face fierce criticism after 10 of the partys top officials - including the PM - lapped up free tickets to attend Swifts concerts, with many including VIP treatment such as access to a private box, food and drink.
Among those bagging the freebies included Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell and chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones.
MPs Joe Morris, Liam Conlon, Dan Carden and Kim Johnson were also gifted tickets.
The PM- dubbed Free Gear Keir amid a scandal the over donations hes received while in Downing Street - later offered to refund the cash value of the £2,800 tickets he accepted in August.
Commenting on the protection given to Ms Swift, ex-Met commander John OConnor said: Police should be left alone to make operational decisions.
This interference creates a perception there is no such thing as a free lunch or concert tickets.
The Met is unable to provide security for Prince Harry but he must be in at least as much danger as Taylor Swift.
A Met spokesman said: The Met is operationally independent. Our decision-making is based on a thorough assessment of threat, risk and harm and circumstances of each case.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) was given four tickets worth a total of £1,160
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, left, and Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell, right, also received free tickets to Swifts show
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, reportedly received four free tickets with hospitality to attend the Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium worth a total of £3,400
A Home Office source said: This was an operational decision for the police.
Of course, when events of this scale take place you would expect the Government, the Mayors office and the Met Police to work together to ensure they can be held safely and securely.
A spokeswoman for Sadiq Khan said: We dont comment on the Mets security arrangements – they are operational decisions for them.
Allies insisted the Mayor does not interfere in operational decisions by the Met, and had been offered tickets before the security issues arose. They stressed the tickets were not gifted by Swifts team.
It is understood that Mr Khan and Ms Cooper did discuss Swifts security arrangements with the Met, but sources argued that was only to be expected given the foiled attack in Austria.