Starmer held personal meeting with Taylor Swift after singer handed taxpayer-funded VIP security
Sir Keir Starmer held a personal meeting with Taylor Swift after the American singer was provided with VIP taxpayer-funded security, a report has revealed.
The Prime Minister, who was embroiled in a gift-grabbing scandal last month, accepted £2,600 worth of tickets to the final night of Swift’s Eras Tour.
Starmer also introduced his family to the billionaire singer during a 10-minute backstage meeting.
The freebie came after Starmer’s then-Chief of Staff Sue Gray negotiated ramped up security with Swift’s mother Andrea amid threats to cancel the five sell-out gigs in August.
Police had initially rejected the plea for taxpayer-funded specialist security which is usually reserved for political leaders and members of the Royal Family.
Scotland Yard reportedly deemed there to be no threat against the concerts of the superstar
However, The Sun has revealed how Swift’s mother-turned-manager threatened to cancel the August trips if their demands were not met after three dates in Vienna were pulled due to the threat of an Islamist attack.
During his 10-minute conversation with Swift, the Prime Minister reportedly discussed the horrific murders in Southport at a Swift-inspired dance class.
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Starmer went on to repay the freebie from Universal Music and more than £2,000 of other donors giveaways.
A No10 spokesperson has insisted that it was “entirely legitimate” for ministers to hold talks with cops about security for major events.
When pressed on whether Downing Street could deny Starmer met Swift after intervening in security arrangements, they added: “Again, first and foremost these are operational decisions that are taken by the Metropolitan Police, and you have seen their statements confirming that themselves.
“At the same time it is right and expected that the Government, mayor and police do have a dialogue and discuss the policing of major events in the capital.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who also accepted free tickets to the concerts, were last week named as being involved in talks over specialist security for the gigs.
However, a No10 spokesman also rejected the suggestion that Starmer was given the tickets as a “thank you” for Swift’s ramped up security.
“I completely reject that characterisation because it’s ultimately up to the police to take operational decisions in relation to the security of these major events,” they said.
Downing Street has instead opted to cite the terror threat faced by Swift in Vienna as a key reason as to why the Government was involved in security talks for her London shows.
