The Labor freebie dispute continues to escalate as it is revealed that the Home Secretary enjoyed free tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, where the singer received a police escort.
Former Labor minister Ed Balls received four tickets from his record company on August 4th and Yvette Cooper – who is his wife – attended the show as a guest on August 16th.
And later that same month, Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan encouraged the Met Police to give Swift a 'VVIP escort' around London for her Wembley Stadium shows.
The force would be reluctant because a blue light escort is normally only provided to senior members of the Royal Family and high-profile politicians and comes at huge costs to the taxpayer.
The tickets were delivered before Swift's Vienna shows were canceled after a foiled terrorist plot, with the suspect taken into custody on August 6.
Ms Cooper today disclosed the tickets to the Cabinet Office, despite the tickets being worth £170, which is less than the £300 that would make them a reportable expense.
The Labor freebie dispute continues to escalate as it is revealed that the Home Secretary enjoyed free tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, where the singer received a police escort.
Former Labor Minister Ed Balls received four tickets from his record company on August 4th and Yvette Cooper – who is his wife – attended the show as his guest on August 16th.
It's the latest update in the Labor Party freebie saga, after it was reported that Lady Victoria Starmer went to see Swift twice this summer – but didn't have to pay a penny.
Having first gone to see the pop star at Wembley Stadium on June 21 with her husband, Lady Starmer returned to the same venue for another show without the Prime Minister on August 15.
It comes as the Starmers continue to be embroiled in a 'wardrobe' row after the Prime Minister allegedly broke parliamentary rules by failing to declare that some of his wife's high-quality clothes were bought for her by her biggest personal donor, Lord Alli.
It emerged that Lady Starmer enjoyed two free Taylor Swift concerts – as almost 700,000 fans paid to see the star at her eight Wembley appearances.
There were several other high-profile Labor figures at the second show she attended, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan encouraged the Metropolitan Police to give Swift a 'VVIP escort' around London for her Wembley Stadium shows.
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, was also one of those who cashed in on Taylor Swift giveaways when he attended a concert on August 20, after receiving four tickets and hospitality worth £3,400.
This means ministers accepted more than £9,000 worth of Taylor Swift tickets in total over the summer.
Mr Jones, Mr Streeting and Ms Phillipson declared their tickets which appeared on their register of members' interests.
No. 10 insisted that Lady Starmer's second note had been declared but had not yet appeared on her husband's register of interests.
MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days.
A major dispute ensues over Lady Starmer's acceptance of £5,000 worth of free clothing, alterations of clothing and personal purchases from Lord Alli.
Sir Keir also accepted suits and glasses worth £18,865 from the millionaire businessman.
