Fury as Home Secretary watched Taylor Swift for FREE days after urging cops to give star VIP blue light escort --[Reported by Umva mag]

THE Home Secretary watched Taylor Swift for free — days after urging the Met to give the megastar an unprecedented VIP police escort. Yvette Cooper and hubby Ed Balls took the £170 Wembley freebies from Swift’s music label Universal. GettyHome Secretary Yvette Cooper watched Taylor Swift for free — days after urging the Met to give the megastar an unprecedented VIP police escort[/caption] GettyMs Cooper she and London Mayor Sadiq Khan personally intervened in the request for a blue-lights escort[/caption] MagicmomentsUKThe Met’s Special Escort Group of motorcyclists were initially reluctant to grant the VIP service[/caption] It is understood Ms Cooper alerted the Cabinet Office about the jolly after we revealed a row over security for the singer. The Sun told yesterday how days before the concert, Ms Cooper pressed for a blue-lights escort for the star. Swift’s mum and manager Andrea had threatened to axe the August shows unless a police convoy was provided. It followed a foiled suicide bomb plot before a Swift gig in Vienna a week earlier. The Met’s Special Escort Group of motorcyclists were initially reluctant to grant the VIP service, which comes at huge expense to taxpayers and is normally reserved for senior royals and politicians. But we can reveal it was finally offered after talks at the top of government with the Met. Insiders say the PM’s then-Chief of Staff Sue Gray played a key role in defusing the row. A Downing Street source defended the PM’s team getting involved, saying the August concerts were “a major event for the country”. The PM’s spokesman said: “You would expect there to be meetings between the Government, police and the mayor. “I don’t have any details on the specifics of that engagement.” Sir Keir has been hit with weeks of criticism over him and ministers accepting hospitality and free gifts. Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick blasted last night: “This is a government so shameless they’d seemingly sell our police for a couple of concert tickets and a friendship bracelet from billionaires.” He added: “Three months into office and they are unable to Shake Off the stench of sleaze.” Sky News reported Mr Balls’ tickets were worth £170 each — less than the £300 that would make it a declarable expense. But Ms Cooper made the declaration to the Cabinet Office early yesterday. We exclusively revealed yesterday how she and London Mayor Sadiq Khan personally intervened in the request for a blue-lights escort. On August 17, ahead of Swift’s 7pm live show, police motorcycle riders were seen speeding up the road to the back of Wembley Stadium. They blocked traffic and told passers-by to stand back. More police riders were seen with Swift’s security vehicles as the convoy entered the stadium. instagramSir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria watch Taylor Swift at Wembley in June[/caption] GettyTaylor Swift’s mum and manager Andrea had threatened to axe the August shows unless a police convoy was provided[/caption] Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly yesterday slammed the decision to use police as “traffic assistance for popstars”. He demanded Labour explain why taxpayers funded the VIP convoy. And he warned the Met’s Special Escort Group (SEG) should not be used “by private individuals or as traffic assistants for popstars”. Before Ms Cooper’s tickets declaration emerged, Mr Cleverly wrote to her and asked: “Did you or any of your ministers speak to (Met chief) Sir Mark Rowley about protection for Ms Swift? “What advice did you or your ministers receive from Sir Mark or other senior Met Police officers?” He added: “The role of the SEG is to serve the state and provide professional mobile protection for Royalty, senior ministers, and at times, guests of Government and State. “It is not for use by private individuals.” This is a government so shameless they’d seemingly sell our police for a couple of concert tickets and a friendship bracelet from billionaires Robert Jenrick Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News she rejected any wrongdoing by the government or Labour mayor Mr Khan. Ms Nandy said: “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 she (Ms Cooper) doesn’t 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.” Ms Nandy told Sky presenter Kay Burley: “Most of Sky News were at these events in these same boxes as well. You were there.” Ms Burley hit back: “I paid for my tickets up front eight months earlier.

Oct 9, 2024 - 21:31

Fury as Home Secretary watched Taylor Swift for FREE days after urging cops to give star VIP blue light escort --[Reported by Umva mag]

THE Home Secretary watched Taylor Swift for free — days after urging the Met to give the megastar an unprecedented VIP police escort.

Yvette Cooper and hubby Ed Balls took the £170 Wembley freebies from Swift’s music label Universal.

a woman is holding a microphone in her hand and smiling

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper watched Taylor Swift for free — days after urging the Met to give the megastar an unprecedented VIP police escort[/caption]

a woman wearing a blue jacket and a white shirt

Ms Cooper she and London Mayor Sadiq Khan personally intervened in the request for a blue-lights escort[/caption]

a row of police cars and motorcycles on a street

The Met’s Special Escort Group of motorcyclists were initially reluctant to grant the VIP service[/caption]

It is understood Ms Cooper alerted the Cabinet Office about the jolly after we revealed a row over security for the singer.

The Sun told yesterday how days before the concert, Ms Cooper pressed for a blue-lights escort for the star.

Swift’s mum and manager Andrea had threatened to axe the August shows unless a police convoy was provided.

It followed a foiled suicide bomb plot before a Swift gig in Vienna a week earlier.

The Met’s Special Escort Group of motorcyclists were initially reluctant to grant the VIP service, which comes at huge expense to taxpayers and is normally reserved for senior royals and politicians.

But we can reveal it was finally offered after talks at the top of government with the Met.

Insiders say the PM’s then-Chief of Staff Sue Gray played a key role in defusing the row.

A Downing Street source defended the PM’s team getting involved, saying the August concerts were “a major event for the country”.

The PM’s spokesman said: “You would expect there to be meetings between the Government, police and the mayor.

“I don’t have any details on the specifics of that engagement.”

Sir Keir has been hit with weeks of criticism over him and ministers accepting hospitality and free gifts.

Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick blasted last night: “This is a government so shameless they’d seemingly sell our police for a couple of concert tickets and a friendship bracelet from billionaires.”

He added: “Three months into office and they are unable to Shake Off the stench of sleaze.”

Sky News reported Mr Balls’ tickets were worth £170 each — less than the £300 that would make it a declarable expense.

But Ms Cooper made the declaration to the Cabinet Office early yesterday.

We exclusively revealed yesterday how she and London Mayor Sadiq Khan personally intervened in the request for a blue-lights escort.

On August 17, ahead of Swift’s 7pm live show, police motorcycle riders were seen speeding up the road to the back of Wembley Stadium.

They blocked traffic and told passers-by to stand back.

More police riders were seen with Swift’s security vehicles as the convoy entered the stadium.

a man and a woman are posing for a picture in a stadium

Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria watch Taylor Swift at Wembley in June[/caption]

two women are sitting next to each other and one is giving a thumbs up

Taylor Swift’s mum and manager Andrea had threatened to axe the August shows unless a police convoy was provided[/caption]

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly yesterday slammed the decision to use police as “traffic assistance for popstars”.

He demanded Labour explain why taxpayers funded the VIP convoy.

And he warned the Met’s Special Escort Group (SEG) should not be used “by private individuals or as traffic assistants for popstars”.

Before Ms Cooper’s tickets declaration emerged, Mr Cleverly wrote to her and asked: “Did you or any of your ministers speak to (Met chief) Sir Mark Rowley about protection for Ms Swift?

“What advice did you or your ministers receive from Sir Mark or other senior Met Police officers?”

He added: “The role of the SEG is to serve the state and provide professional mobile protection for Royalty, senior ministers, and at times, guests of Government and State.

“It is not for use by private individuals.”

This is a government so shameless they’d seemingly sell our police for a couple of concert tickets and a friendship bracelet from billionaires Robert Jenrick

Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News she rejected any wrongdoing by the government or Labour mayor Mr Khan.

Ms Nandy said: “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 she (Ms Cooper) doesn’t 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.”

Ms Nandy told Sky presenter Kay Burley: “Most of Sky News were at these events in these same boxes as well. You were there.”

Ms Burley hit back: “I paid for my tickets up front eight months earlier.

“So please, don’t do that.”

Fired-up Ms Nandy argued that as long as ministers declare their freebie tickets on the government register of interests, they should be allowed to enjoy them.

She said: “People can and will judge for themselves.

“It’s fair that they do that.”

Sir Keir has offered to refund free tickets worth £4,000.

But he is not paying back the cost of four tickets for a Swift show at Wembley in June which he attended with wife Victoria.

FREEBIES ROW

Meanwhile, Ms Nandy has denied a conflict of interest for attending a Swift concert as a guest of the Football Association.

She held meetings at the stadium in the summer amid plans for an independent regulator to help oversee clubs in England’s top five tiers.

Ms Nandy explained she turned down offers of tickets from other stakeholders discussing the proposed legislation because the FA offered a more neutral position.

Asked if there was a potential clash, she said: “No.

“This is precisely the reason why I didn’t go with any of the other stakeholders.

a letter from the house of commons dated 9 october 2024 — Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly wrote to Yvette Cooper about our exclusive

a man in a suit and tie is walking down the street

Mr Cleverly slammed the decision to use police as ‘traffic assistance for popstars’[/caption]

“There are different views across the footballing world… I went with the FA who are supportive of the Bill but have the interests of the whole of football at heart.”

Amid the row over freebies, the government has now said ministers will have to declare hospitality linked to their government job in their MPs’ register too.

The following news has been carefully analyzed, curated, and compiled by Umva Mag from a diverse range of people, sources, and reputable platforms. Our editorial team strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information we provide. By combining insights from multiple perspectives, we aim to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the events and stories that shape our world. Umva Mag values transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity, ensuring that each piece of content is delivered with the utmost professionalism.