Taylor Swift ought to be given Freedom of London for £1bn financial system enhance say MPs
Taylor Swift should be given the Freedom of the City of London after “filling the blank space” in the UK economy, MPs have demanded.
The Lib Dems want the US superstar to be recognised after her Eras Tour was estimated to boost British coffers by £1billion. The capital benefitted from an extra £200million, it is estimated.
The Karma singer has been praised for donating to food banks in cities where she’s performed. Tens of thousands of fans packed into arenas across the UK as Taylor, 34, brought her tour to these shores. Barclays Bank estimates that as a result of fans purchasing tickets, travel, accommodation, outfits, food and merchandise, a massive £997million has been injected into the British economy.
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And the London Assembly reckons the impact on the capital will be worth £300million. Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney, who represents Richmond Park in London, said: “Her decorated 18-year career has been one of endless philanthropy and using her platform to bring reforms to the music industry, all while releasing chart-topping hits and breaking record after record.
“But Taylor Swift is now on track to achieve her most impressive feat yet; patching part of the blank space the Conservative government left in the British economy after years of neglect. The Eras Tour has provided hours of joy to the thousands of fans attending the shows, but the real legacy of Taylor Swift’s tour will be the lifeline it provides to our economy, so it is only right that she be recognised with London’s highest honour.”
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The singer will have performed a total of 15 shows in the UK this summer – including performances in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Cardiff and London. Eight of those shows were at Wembley Stadium.
Additionally, the Liberal Democrats believe her work securing streaming royalties for other artists signed to the same record label as her and the huge donations she has made to food banks in London during her Eras Tour stops qualifies Taylor Swift to receive the Freedom of the City.
An Early Day Motion tabled by the Lib Dems calls on MPs to recognise the “substantial economic impact” of the Eras Tour, and to acknowledge the effect of “Swiftonomics”.
