The Labour freebie row continues to rumble on as it’s revealed the Home Secretary enjoyed free tickets to a Taylor Swift gig where the singer was given a police escort.
Former Labour minister Ed Balls was given four tickets by her music label on August 4 and Yvette Cooper – who is his wife – went to the concert as his guest on August 16.
And later that same month, Ms Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan encouraged the Met Police to give Swift a ‘VVIP escort’ through London for her Wembley Stadium concerts.
The force were reportedly reluctant, because a blue-light escort is normally only provided to senior members of the Royal Family and high-level politicians and comes at huge expense to the taxpayer.
The tickets were given before Swift’s shows in Vienna were cancelled following a foiled terror plot, with the suspect taken into custody on August 6.
Ms Cooper today disclosed the tickets to the Cabinet Office, despite the tickets being worth £170 which is less than the £300 that would make it a declarable expense.
The Labour freebie row continues to rumble on as it’s revealed the Home Secretary enjoyed free tickets to a Taylor Swift gig where the singer was given a police escort.
Former Labour minister Ed Balls was given four tickets by her music label on August 4 and Yvette Cooper – who is his wife – went to the concert as his guest on August 16
Sky News reported that the Home Office department were informed when the tickets were offered and the Cabinet Office were told on on 23 September.
This is in part due to initial advice that the ticket wouldn’t need to be declared.
A week after a foiled terror attack plot in Vienna, Austria, against Swift, her mother and manger Andrea reportedly threatened to stop the UK August performances if a Met convoy from Wembley to her hotel was not delivered.
After the SEG’s 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.
Ex-Met commander John O’Connor 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.’
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 Mayor’s office and the Met Police to work together to ensure they can be held safely and securely.’
A spokesman for the Mayor said: ‘We don’t comment on the Met’s security arrangements.’
It’s the latest update in Labour’s freebie saga, after it was reported Lady Victoria Starmer went to see Swift twice this summer – but did not have to pay a penny.
Having first gone to see the pop star at Wembley Stadium on June 21 with her husband, Lady Starmer then returned to the same venue for another concert without the Prime Minister on August 15.
It comes as the Starmers continue to be embroiled in a ‘wardrobegate’ row after the PM allegedly breached parliamentary rules by failing to declare that some of his wife’s high-end clothes were bought for her by his biggest personal donor, Lord Alli.
It emerged that Lady Starmer enjoyed two free Taylor Swift concerts – as nearly 700,000 fans paid to see the star across her eight performances at Wembley.
There were several other high-profile Labour figures at the second gig she went to, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
Ms Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan encouraged the Met Police to give Swift a ‘VVIP escort’ through London for her Wembley Stadium concerts
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was also among those to cash in with Taylor Swift freebies as he attended an August 20 concert after receiving four tickets and hospitality worth £3,400.
It means Cabinet ministers accepted more than £9,000 worth of Taylor Swift tickets in total over the summer.
Mr Jones, Mr Streeting and Ms Phillipson declared their tickets which have appeared on their register of members’ interests.
No 10 insisted Lady Starmer’s second ticket was declared, but it has not yet appeared on her husband’s register of interests.
MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days.
It follows a major row over Lady Starmer’s acceptance of £5,000 worth of free clothing, garment alterations and personal shopping from Lord Alli.
Sir Keir has also accepted suits and spectacles worth £18,865 from the millionaire businessman.