Boris Johnson says its utterly incredulous that Labour ministers urged the Met to give Taylor Swift a blue-light police escort to her London shows
Yvette Cooper faced calls last night to explain her role in getting Taylor Swift a VVIP police escort to her London shows.
Yvette Cooper faced calls last night to explain her role in getting Taylor Swift a VVIP police escort to her London shows.
The Home Secretary was engulfed by questions after Scotland Yard laid on a blue-light escort usually reserved for royalty and politicians to get the billionaire singer to Wembley.
It was the first time the Metropolitan Polices Special Escort Group was used to protect a pop star, and comes as Prince Harry fights the Home Office in court over similar access to security.
After mayor of London Sadiq Khan also intervened there were accusations of political over-reach with regard to the independence of the police, and taxpayer money being wasted as officers were used as traffic assistance for pop stars.
Labour figures including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his family, Ms Cooper and her husband Ed Balls, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy attended Ms Swifts gigs on free tickets from a variety of sources, including the singers record label, Universal, and the Football Association, which owns Wembley.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a speech in Austria on July 26
Taylor Swift performs on stage at Wembley Stadium on August 15
Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper attend press night after party for Somnium: A Dancers Dream on June 20
Today, writing in the Mail, former PM and mayor of London Boris Johnson says: Never in all my time as mayor did I suggest to the police that some distinguished rich visitor to London might need outriders, because that is simply not what we do in this country.
No matter how rich, or famous, or pressed for time they may be – they wait in the traffic, like everyone else... so I was utterly incredulous to hear that the new Labour government decided in August to break with all tradition and give full Special Escort Group assistance to the American pop star Taylor Swift.
Where will it end? How many other visiting celebrities will get outriders as part of their rider? Starmer, Cooper, the lot of them – they accepted freebie tickets from Taylor Swift; they excited their kids with the prospect of the concert; and when there seemed a risk that the concert might not go ahead they saw no harm in chucking some taxpayers money at the problem and getting the police to do something they would otherwise never do.
Sources close to the Home Secretary and Mr Khan say that although they spoke to the Met about the wider security picture, the decision to provide a VVIP escort was left to police chiefs.
Between Ms Swifts first concerts in the capital in June and her return in August, three girls were killed at a Swift-themed dance class in Southport, sparking riots that lasted a week.
Taylor Swift performs on stage at Wembley Stadium on June 22
Yvette Cooper gives a speech during the Labour Party Conference 2024
Swifties queue outside Wembley Stadium in north west London on August 16
Then her three gigs in Austria were cancelled after authorities uncovered a plot by Islamic State fanatics for a suicide attack on her fans. Ms Swifts manager, her mother Andrea, reportedly threatened to cancel the return to Wembley unless there was a police escort from her hotel.
Scotland Yard declined after carrying out a risk assessment. But following discussions with the Home Secretary and Mr Khan, the escort was granted.
Ms Cooper has since failed to comment publicly. Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick said he was very surprised that she got involved, adding: These decisions are supposed to be made by the police, who are operationally independent. The decision by Yvette Cooper to intervene to help a celebrity glide through the streets of London while she and her Cabinet colleagues were accepting tickets to concerts was bizarre.
Former Tory home secretary Damian Green said: Yvette Cooper would be well advised to be completely transparent.
Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium as part of her Eras Tour on June 21
Former Tory home secretary Damian Green (pictured) said Yvette Cooper would be advised to be completely transparent
Tory peer Lord Howard, another former home secretary, said: It certainly raises questions.
James Cleverly, the last Tory home secretary, wrote to Ms Cooper on Wednesday, saying the Special Escort Group was for royalty, senior Government ministers, and guests of Government and state... not private individuals or as traffic assistants for pop stars.
Mr Khan was given six tickets worth £1,164 by the Football Association. Ms Cooper attended one gig as a guest of her husband Ed Balls, the former shadow chancellor, who received tickets from Ms Swifts label, Universal.
On Thursday, Mr Khan said: Operation matters are for the police, not the mayor.
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.
Scotland Yard said: The Met is operationally independent.
