Minister: Tory MPs should Shake It Off when it comes to Taylor Swift questions

A Cabinet curate has suggested Tory MPs determination connected from raising questions astir Taylor Swift freebies, telling the Commons: “It’s astir clip they Shake It Off.”

Commons Leader Lucy Powell took inspiration from the US superstar’s opus postulation aft she besides raised the estimated £1 cardinal boost to the UK system generated by Swift’s Eras Tour.

Ms Powell was responding to calls from her Conservative shadow, Chris Philp, for a Commons connection connected the “special constabulary escort” received by Swift arsenic helium asked the Government to “come cleanable and archer the truth”.

The exchanges came amid an ongoing enactment aft Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended a sell-out Swift amusement for escaped and met the singer, aft Government engagement successful discussions implicit her security, which saw her fixed a taxpayer-funded constabulary escort portion performing successful London.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who were progressive successful the talks, besides accepted escaped tickets.

Shadow Commons person Mr Philp asked Ms Powell: “Will the person put a connection connected the peculiar constabulary escort for Taylor Swift?

“It is reported the constabulary decided initially that nary peculiar escort was needed. Apparently the Home Secretary, the Attorney General, the Mayor of London and, inevitably (Sir Keir’s erstwhile main of staff) Sue Gray, past pressured the constabulary into changing their caput and providing one, violating the police’s operational independence.

“We present cognize that 1 of the galore freebies the Prime Minister has eagerly scrounged for himself were tickets and a backstage walk to that precise concert.”

Mr Philp went connected to database different Labour ministers who received escaped tickets, joking: “What were they doing, having a Cabinet gathering astatine the concert?

“Does the person recognize however atrocious this looks? The Government initially denied the Met were pressured, which present appears to beryllium untrue.

“So volition the Government yet travel cleanable and archer the information astir precisely what unit was enactment connected the Met and by whom?”

Ms Powell replied: “He raises the Taylor Swift concerts, inevitably.”

Ms Powell, responding to a heckle, said: “No, I wasn’t determination actually.

“The Taylor Swift concerts generated £1 cardinal for the UK visitant system this summer. Surely this is thing that radical privation to welcome.

“And perhaps, I cognize he’s funny successful quoting different people, helium mightiness privation to work what the Conservative adjacent Andrew Lloyd Webber said successful The Times today.

“He said the continued attraction connected this performance by the enactment other is ludicrous.

“I deliberation it’s astir clip they Shake It Off.”

As immoderate MPs cheered, Ms Powell added: “Someone had to get it in, surely.”

Sir Keir and his household talked with Swift and her parent for astir 10 minutes astatine 1 of her shows astatine Wembley successful August.

It is understood that determination was nary treatment of information arrangements during the speech and that the chat centred connected the Southport attack.

Sir Keir earlier this period repaid tickets to the gig helium received from Universal Music amid a enactment implicit freebies.

Swift’s shows successful Vienna earlier that period were cancelled implicit a panic threat.