Sadiq Khan ignores deadline to questions over Taylor Swift's VVIP security

Sadiq Khan has been accused of “treating Londoners with contempt” amid ongoing questions implicit whether and however his bureau was progressive successful securing ‘VVIP’ constabulary extortion for Taylor Swift during her Wembley Stadium concerts.

In its letter, sent astatine the extremity of October, the committee besides requested that helium outline the full fig of constabulary escorts provided to Ms Swift, arsenic good arsenic a breakdown of the full cost, including overtime costs incurred, amongst different details.

Mr Khan’s bureau was asked to respond wrong a week of the committee’s letter, but astir 1 period connected from that deadline, nary reply has been received.

Asked whether the hold could beryllium explained, the mayor’s spokesperson said lone that Mr Khan “will respond to the Assembly successful owed course”.

Ms Swift performed astatine Wembley successful August, conscionable days aft she pulled retired of 3 planned concerts successful Vienna aft constabulary foiled a panic crippled there.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said successful October: “Neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Secretary, nor the Mayor of London, has the powerfulness to override the constabulary connected this matter. It is an operational determination for the police.

“They tin enactment their ain view. That's surely the case. But you would expect the Home Secretary and the politician of the metropolis wherever this lawsuit is taking place, fixed the past of what had conscionable happened successful Vienna, to beryllium progressive successful the speech astir information arrangements.”

A spokesperson for the Met Police said astatine the clip that the unit is “operationally independent”, adding: “Our decision-making is based connected a thorough appraisal of threat, hazard and harm and the circumstances of each case.”

The Assembly’s missive to the mayor, requesting details of precisely however it was agreed to supply Ms Swift with ‘VVIP’ status, was sent by the constabulary and transgression committee’s Conservative chair, Susan Hall - who stood against Mr Khan successful this year’s mayoral election.

Giving her ain views arsenic an assembly member, alternatively than speaking successful her cross-party relation arsenic committee chair, Ms Hall told the Standard: “It’s been implicit a period since I wrote to the politician to inquire for accusation astir the VVIP escort Taylor Swift received, and yet we person nary answers.

“We besides person nary further answers astir immoderate engagement helium whitethorn person had successful arranging that escort.

“He has dodged and ducked responsibility, hid down flippant answers connected the uncommon occasions erstwhile helium gives them, and treated Londoners with contempt implicit this full shameful affair.

“It is simply a disgrace to the bureau helium holds and I americium profoundly disappointed by it – we indispensable person answers and my colleagues and I are determined to get them.”

His archetypal introduction connected City Hall’s registry of gifts and hospitality incorrectly stated that the tickets were worthy £194, not £500. Mr Khan besides took 10 days longer than allowed to state the tickets, and erstwhile helium did, helium wrongly claimed that they had been talented by the Football Association, alternatively than LS Events - which is simply a contractor to City Hall.

The mayor’s spokesperson said this was owed to an “administrative error” and had been rectified.

Ms Hall has nevertheless asked City Hall’s monitoring officer, Rory McKenna, to formally analyse the incident arsenic a “potential contravention” of the Gifts and Hospitality policy.

The assembly member’s ailment besides referenced LS Events’ presumption arsenic a City Hall contractor. She asked whether Mr McKenna could “clarify” the rules “regarding the receipt and declaration of hospitality donations from outer suppliers and contractors for the Mayor of London and staff”.

As of Tuesday, December 3, City Hall said it had nary update to springiness connected whether the monitoring serviceman volition beryllium taking enactment oregon not.