Sue Gray’s role in Taylor Swift freebie row laid bare | Politics | News

Sue Gray had direct talks with Taylor Swift’s mother regarding the pop star’s VVIP security when she was in the UK, according to reports.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing scrutiny after his Attorney General granted Ms Swift a police escort in London.

The taxpayer paid for Ms Swift’s motorbike convoy while she was touring in the UK in the summer.

Scotland Yard rejected the idea of providing the convoy for Ms Swift at first, but U-turned after an intervention from Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, the Times reports.

Now, sources have claimed that Ms Swifts’s mother, Andrea, warned that her daughter’s August Wembley shows would be cancelled if their security demands were not met.

A Number 10 sources told the Sun that Sir Keir’s then Chief of Staff Ms Gray played a key role in convincing the Metropolitan Police to provide the security.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper are also reported to have been involved in the decision-making surrounding Ms Swift’s security.

Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves squirmed when asked about this in the House of Commons this week.

Tory MP Sir Gavin Williamson asked her: “There’s a lot of concern among constituents about how, for the giving away of free tickets, the Government seems to have been involved in compromising the operational independence of the police.

“I appreciate the minister can’t set out what the Attorney General’s advice was. But can she explain to the House why the Attorney General was asked to give advice?

“And what question the Attorney General was asked to answer?”

Ms Reeves replied: “Policing is an operational matter for the police, so not something I can comment on directly.”

This also comes as Sir Keir’s Labour Government comes under pressure for freebies many Cabinet ministers have received since taking office.

A total of 11 Labour MPs accepted more than £20,000 in tickets for Ms Swift’s concerts.

The Prime Minister was one. Others included Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, and Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.