The recent days and weeks following Keir Starmer’s Cruel Summer of cronyism allegations has developed further. It is alleged that senior Labour politicians and concert promoters put pressure on the police for a royal-grade blue light escorts for Taylor Swift during her recent performances in London in August.
The culture secretary Lisa Nandy, while maintaining that no improper pressure was exerted on the police for Swift to receive this elevated level of security, confessed that politicians do express their views to the Metropolitan Police, and that in her view it is entirely reasonable to that the joint bosses of the police commissioner, the Home Secretary and the Mayor of London, discuss detailed security arrangements for high profile events, in spite of the constitutional position that the police are operationally independent.
Earlier today, Number 10 insisted that the decision to give a taxpayer funded blue light police escort to Taylor Swift was a decision made by the Metropolitan Police, not a political one.
However, what we are witnessing is not just a series of missteps but a significant distortion of political priorities.
Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks out on an ’embarrassment’ for the Labour Party
GB NEWS
The practice of turning outriders and security escorts into expensive status symbols is quite wrong, reminiscent of the practices of authoritarian regimes where the rule of law is disregarded for the whims of the powerful.
This is an embarrassment for the Labour Party; which seems to be for sale to promoters.
Swift performed eight nights at London’s Wembley StadiumPA
It is worth remembering who received these Taylor Swift tickets: senior Labour figures, and even London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan. Why is the Mayor of London involving himself in the security arrangements for a pop star?
Especially when the police have so many other more pressing priorities: the threat of knife crime with another 15 year old stabbed in Sloane Square on Monday, burglaries not attended by the police, and a swathe of mobile phone muggings all require more urgent attention than the travel arrangements of an American pop star.
Moreover, this incident reveals a disturbing trend within our political culture—where people in power leverage their influence to secure special treatment for themselves and their associates. This sordid affair, this “Freebiegate,” illustrates how lavish hospitality does influence political behavior.
This is not merely a case of political favoritism; it is a pattern of behaviour that could easily become systemic corruption within our politics. People in power receive perks and benefits with the expectation of influence in return.
Taylor Swift wanted police outriders, the football clubs worry about a new regulator, and Lord Alli wants access to the powerful.
Hospitality is not given to politicians because of their sparkling personalities, the Reverend Starmer would not get much on that basis, but because people want something in return. This episode just provides the proof.