Starmer WON’T refer himself to requirements adviser over Swift row
Sir Keir Starmer will not refer himself to his own standards adviser to check whether or not he broke ministerial rules in a row over Taylor Swift‘s VIP police protection.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister would not be asking Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser on ministers’ interests, to look into the matter.
There has been intense scrutiny over the role of senior Labour figures – including Sir Keir’s ex-chief of staff Sue Gray – after Swift was given a taxpayer-funded police escort during her sell-out concerts at Wembley this summer.
The PM – once dubbed ‘Mr Rules’ following his fierce criticism of Tory ‘sleaze’ – received free tickets and hospitality, worth £2,800, to one of those gigs on 20 August from the US pop star’s record label.
And it was revealed last night how Sir Keir and his family also enjoyed a 10-minute meeting with Swift while they attended the concert.
But No10 today denied there was a perceived conflict of interest over Sir Keir attending the show and meeting the mega-star after the Government got involved in talks about her security.
Sir Keir Starmer will not refer himself to his own standards adviser to check whether or not he broke ministerial rules in a row over Taylor Swift ‘s VIP police protection
There has been intense scrutiny over the role of senior Labour figures after Swift was given a taxpayer-funded police escort during her sell-out concerts at Wembley this summer
No10 said the PM would not be asking Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser on ministers’ interests, to look into the matter
Government ministers ‘must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise’, according to ministerial rules.
Asked if he accepted there was a perceived conflict of interest, the PM’s official spokesman told reporters: ‘No, on the basis that the decision-making in this case was for the Metropolitan Police operationally and independently.
‘However, the Government is clear that it is entirely routine for discussions to take place around events of this scale and magnitude to ensure that they take place safely and smoothly.
‘But the bottom line is that the decisions in this case are for the Met and the Met alone.’
Asked whether Sir Keir would refer himself to Sir Laurie amid the deepening row, his official spokesman said: ‘First and foremost on this, the decisions that the Met Police take are taken independently of the Government.
‘The Met Police have made clear that they are operationally independent, that their decision making is based on a thorough assessment of threat, risk, and harm and circumstances of each case.’
Pushed again on the question, the spokesman added: ‘No, on the basis that the decisions taken by the police were operationally independent.’
Downing Street has previously denied Sir Keir was given the free tickets to Swift’s gig on 20 August as a ‘thank you’ for the singer’s VIP police protection.
No10 has cited the terror threat faced by Swift in Vienna, which forced her to cancel gigs on the Austrian leg of her Eras tour, as one of the reasons why the Government was involved in security talks for her London shows.
It emerged last week that London mayor Sadiq Khan, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Attorney General Richard Hermer took part in those discussions, after which Swift was granted a blue-light escort – a type of protection usually reserved for royalty and politicians.
Mr Khan and Ms Cooper also accepted free tickets to Swift’s concerts, along with Sir Keir.
The PM received free tickets and hospitality, worth £2,800, to Swift’s gig on 20 August from the US pop star’s record label
Sir Keir and his wife Victoria previously attended a Swift concert at Wembley on 21 June, during the singer’s first run of shows at the stadium this summer
The PM and his family spoke with the pop star and her mother, Andrea, for 10 minutes at the 20 August show.
It is understood their talks were focused solely focused on the Southport stabbings in July, which happened at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The PM and the pop star had no discussion about the singer’s security in London while they met at her Wembley gig, according to No10 sources.
Sir Keir was dragged into the row over Swift’s VIP police protection amid claims that Ms Gray, his former top aide, negotiated directly with Andrea over security issues.
The Met Police are reported to have initially held reservations about providing the singer with a taxpayer-funded motorbike convoy.
But it has been revealed how Swift was eventually given a blue-light escort by Scotland Yard following interventions by top Labour ministers.
Earlier this month, the PM announced he would cover the cost of around £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since entering office amid a fierce row over his various freebies.
Among the declarations he said he would pay back were the four tickets to see Swift at Wembley, which were received on August 20 from Universal Music Group.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘The Met is operationally independent.
‘Our decision-making is based on a thorough assessment of threat, risk and harm and the circumstances of each case.
‘It is our longstanding position that we don’t comment on the specific details of protective security arrangements.’
Sir Keir and his wife Victoria previously attended a Swift concert at Wembley on 21 June, during the singer’s first run of shows at the stadium this summer.
