Yvette Cooper has tried to make light of her role in ‘Taylorgate’, joking that her husband had told her to ‘shake it off’.
The Home Secretary referenced the Taylor Swift song as she discussed the controversy over the US singer being given a blue-light escort.
She told political journalists that her husband Ed Balls, a former Labour Cabinet minister, had advised her to ‘shake it off’ whenever she finds herself at the centre of media storms.
Ms Cooper added: ‘Ed’s advice was – in the words of a superstar – “Haters gonna hate, hate, hate. Shake it off. Shake it off”.
‘And that’s how we’ll keep going. And also focusing on the things that we’re doing and the things that we are doing to change things across the country.’
The Home Secretary tried to make light of her role in ‘Taylorgate’, joking that her husband had told her to ‘shake it off’
Taylor Swift was given a blue-light escort when the megastar played dates across the UK over summer as part of her Eras Tour
Ms Cooper told political journalists that her husband Ed Balls, a former Labour Cabinet minister, had advised her to ‘shake it off’ whenever she finds herself at the centre of media storms
Sir Keir Starmer, seen with wife Victoria (pictured), was chief among the Labour politicians to receive tickets to Wembley gigs
It emerged last week that Ms Cooper had been involved in the discussions with Scotland Yard that led to officers agreeing to give Ms Swift a police escort.
It was then revealed that she had attended one of the singer’s concerts at Wembley as a guest of her husband, who had been given four free tickets by Ms Swift’s record label Universal.
Ms Cooper did not have to include the perk in the register of MPs’ interests because it was worth £170 – under the £300 limit for declarable gifts and hospitality.
But she did declare it to the Home Office for the separate list of ministerial hospitality and it will be published alongside other transparency data.
Labour sources dismissed any allegations of a potential conflict of interest, given that Ms Swift was forced to cancel her earlier shows in Austria due to a foiled terror plot.
‘I think any suggestion of that nature shows a fundamental failure to understand the seriousness of the security context after Vienna and is clearly complete nonsense,’ one insider said.
‘Shake It Off’ is one of Swift’s many chart-topping hits, from her fifth album, 1989
Sir Keir received four tickets and hospitality, worth £2,800, to Swift’s gig on 20 August at Wembley from Universal Music Group
Fresh questions were raised amid reports that Sue Gray, the PM’s ex- chief of staff, negotiated directly with Swift’s mother Andrea over security
Last week the Culture Secretary denied claims that Ms Cooper had exerted undue influence.
Lisa 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.’
But senior Conservatives condemned Ms Cooper’s role in the row, with the party’s leadership contender Robert Jenrick saying it was ‘bizarre’.