Home Secretary Yvette Cooper attended a Taylor Swift concert in London complimentary, utilizing tickets provided to her spouse by the superstar’s record label, Universal, Sky News has disclosed.
Ms. Cooper was present at one of the events where additional police protection was allocated to the pop icon, which sources claim she advocated for.
The home secretary accompanied her husband, former Labour minister Ed Balls, as a guest.
Mr. Balls received the four tickets on August 4, prior to the cancellation of Swift’s Vienna shows due to a foiled terrorism plot, and the couple attended the concert on August 16 following security deliberations.
Ms. Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan engaged with the Metropolitan Police to advocate for a “VVIP escort” for the megastar during her Wembley Stadium performances.
The Metropolitan Police were reportedly hesitant to approve this since a blue-light escort is generally reserved for senior members of the Royal Family and high-ranking politicians, incurring significant costs for taxpayers, as The Sun reported.
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Until today, no details about the tickets had been made available to the public.
The tickets were believed to be valued at £170, below the £300 threshold that necessitates a declaration as an expense, yet the home secretary disclosed this information to the Cabinet Office earlier today.
Tory MP Stuart Andrew commented on X that Ms. Cooper’s choice to attend the concert was “shocking and raises significant concerns.”
According to Sky News, the Home Office was notified immediately after the tickets were offered, and the permanent secretary’s office informed the Cabinet Office on September 23. At this time, there were worries that the Commons Parliamentary Commissioner might not be inclined to make this matter public.
It is also understood that the home secretary’s team has been in communication with their permanent secretary’s office regarding this matter for approximately the past week.
A source close to the home secretary informed Sky News: “The London Taylor Swift concerts in August followed closely after the cancellation of her Vienna shows due to the revelation of a terror plot which the CIA’s deputy director affirmed was intended to slaughter ‘tens of thousands’ of attendees, raising widespread concerns about whether the London events would proceed.”
“These concerts also came on the heels of a fortnight marked by severe and violent unrest in various British towns and cities, prompted by a heinous attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.”
“In light of the Manchester Arena incident during the Ariana Grande concert in 2017, security protocols for such events are handled with utmost seriousness. In fact, the government will soon enact legislation for Martyn’s Law to enhance safety measures at venues.”
“We can categorically assert that all operational decisions rested with the Metropolitan Police, and they refrain from discussing security arrangements.”
Andrea, Taylor Swift’s mother and manager, reportedly threatened to cancel her daughter’s August shows if the police escort was not provided.
Andrea, Taylor Swift’s mother and manager, was said to have threatened to cancel her daughter’s August performances if the police escort was not arranged.
Shortly earlier, the artist had to cancel her planned shows in Vienna due to a thwarted suicide bombing plot aimed at her Eras tour, which the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) later revealed was designed to kill tens of thousands of individuals.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed to Sky News on Wednesday that she “completely dismissed” any notion of “wrongdoing” by the Labour government or London’s Labour mayor.
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She noted that “you would expect” the home secretary and the mayor to engage in discussions “where there is a security threat,” particularly following the Vienna bombing incident.
“This is an operational decision for the police, not a matter for the government,” she articulated to Sky News.
The minister added that Ms. Cooper would have reached a “well-considered judgement regarding that and communicated her perspective.”
She remarked, “It’s important to remember that concerning Taylor Swift, a series of concerts had just been canceled in Vienna owing to a significant security threat.”
“I firmly reject any claims of wrongdoing or undue influence in this context.”
