Top Labour politicians ‘pressed’ cops to give Taylor Swift royal-style escort to Wembley gig – then landed free tickets

TOP Labour politicians person been accused of pressing constabulary to springiness Taylor Swift a royalty-style blue-light escort to Wembley.

Cops were reluctant to assistance her the VVIP work — which comes astatine immense disbursal to the taxpayer.

Swift’s mum and manager, Andrea, is said to person threatened to axe the August shows unless a constabulary convoy was provided.

It followed a foiled termination weaponry crippled successful Austria the erstwhile week.

Senior cops agreed to it aft idiosyncratic interventions by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

VVIP extortion is usually for elder royalty and politicians.

Even Prince Harry would not get the aforesaid attraction aft losing a tribunal lawsuit implicit the downgrading of his security.

The Special Escort Group of motorcyclists has a strict argumentation of not being utilized for backstage individuals.

It is understood chiefs were opposed to providing extortion for billionaire Swift, 34, and her entourage.

Revelations implicit the information wrangle travel aft Labour politicians person been criticised for devouring freebies.

PM Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Khan were among those to person escaped tickets for the Wembley gigs.

Ex-Met commandant John O’Connor insisted: “Police should beryllium near unsocial to marque operational decisions.

“This interference creates a cognition determination is nary specified happening arsenic a escaped luncheon oregon performance tickets. The Met is incapable to supply information for Prince Harry but helium indispensable beryllium successful astatine slightest arsenic overmuch information arsenic Taylor Swift.

Terror fears

“The SEG is dedicated to the precise superior concern of protecting the Royal Family, elder authorities ministers and overseas heads of state. This is an maltreatment of an elite service.”

Three of Swift’s shows were axed successful Vienna implicit fears of terrorism.

An quality appraisal was past carried retired by UK constabulary and MI5 but determination was nary accusation of a menace to the US star’s Wembley shows.

But sources said her mum dem­anded a constabulary escort for the travel to and from Wembley from a hotel.

One root said: “There was a large woody of interest astir information successful the Swift campy and they were threatening to telephone disconnected the shows unless determination was a constabulary escort.

“The SEG has a circumstantial relation and bash not supply information screen for immoderate backstage individuals, nary substance however important.”

After the SEG’s archetypal refusal, it is understood the bureau of Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley intervened.

Sources accidental Ms Cooper stressed to the Met that immoderate cancellation would beryllium economically damaging and embarrassing.

But SEG controllers are said to person remained steadfast.

A root said: “At this constituent Mayor Khan stepped successful and contacted the Met.

“The Mayor had seemingly been contacted by the Home Secretary’s bureau and Swift’s management.

“The engagement of the Home Secretary and Mayor efficaciously amounts to applying pressure.

“The SEG yet agreed to marque an objection to their argumentation and the Vienna terrorist arrests were utilized to warrant the decision.

But determination was nary circumstantial menace to Swift and the SEG were not blessed astir being utilized arsenic her ­private bodyguards. They consciousness their presumption and relation has been undermined.”

None of the SEG officers was equipped arsenic they usually are for authoritative State duties.

Ordinary constabulary motorcyclists were utilized astatine Swift’s Edinburgh and Cardiff gigs.

She thanked constabulary for helping her Wembley gigs to spell ahead.

She said: “We commend the constabulary for their enactment to guarantee these events went disconnected smoothly and safely.”

'Operationally independent'

The Met said: “The Met is operationally independent. Our decision-making is based connected a thorough appraisal of threat, hazard and harm and circumstances of each case.”

A Home Office root said: “This was an operational determination for the police. Of course, erstwhile events of this standard instrumentality spot you would expect the Government, the Mayor’s bureau and the Met Police to enactment unneurotic to guarantee they tin beryllium held safely and securely.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor said: “We don’t remark connected the Met’s information arrangements.”

PM Sir Keir has offered to refund escaped tickets worthy £4,000 helium got for Swift’s August concerts.

He is not paying backmost the outgo of 4 tickets for a amusement successful June helium attended with woman Victoria.

Swifties who got freebies

Plus 4 much Labour MPs