No10 refuses to say if Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at Wembley gig

Sir Keir Starmer was dragged into a row over Taylor Swift's VIP police protection today after Downing Street refused to say if he met the pop star this summer.

The Prime Minister is facing intense scrutiny over the involvement of senior Labour figures in talks around security for Swift's sell-out summer shows at Wembley.

The Metropolitan Police were reported to have held reservations about providing the singer with a taxpayer-funded motorbike convoy.

But it has emerged how Swift was eventually given a blue-light escort by Scotland Yard following interventions by top Labour ministers.

Sir Keir received free tickets and hospitality, worth £2,800, to Swift's gig on 20 August at Wembley from the star's record label.

Fresh questions were raised over the gift amid reports that Sue Gray, the PM's ex-chief of staff, negotiated directly with Swift's mother Andrea over security.

No10 this afternoon repeatedly refused to say whether Sir Keir met Swift at the Wembley gig.

A spokeswoman said: 'I don't have any updates.'

Pressed again on whether No10 could deny that Sir Keir had met Swift on 20 August after Downing Street intervened in security arrangements, she said: 'Again, first and foremost these are operational decisions that are taken by the Metropolitan Police, and you have seen their statements confirming that themselves.

'At the same time it is right and expected that the Government, mayor and police do have a dialogue and discuss the policing of major events in the capital.'

Downing Street also did not deny that Number 10 had conversations with Swift's team.

The spokeswoman added: 'It is entirely legitimate for the Government to have a dialogue with the police when it comes to the arrangements for major events.'

No10 had earlier declined to say whether Sir Keir met Taylor or Andrea, who acts as her daughter's manager, at the Wembley gig.

The PM's official spokesman told reporters: 'Ministerial declarations will be set out in the usual way.'

But asked whether No10 could rule out Sir Keir having been given the Wembley tickets as a 'thank you' for Swift's VIP police protection, Sir Keir's spokesman said: 'I completely reject that characterisation

'Because it's ultimately up to the police to take operational decisions in relation to the security of these major events.' 

It was previously revealed how London mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper - who both also attended Swift's Eras tour concerts in London for free -  were involved in talks around security before the singer was granted a blue-light escort.

Attorney General Richard Hermer was also reportedly asked to press Scotland Yard over giving Swift VIP police protection.

Asked today whether it was the PM's view that there was no perception of a conflict of interest, Sir Keir's spokesman said: 'Operational decisions are for the Met. That's the bottom line.'

Downing Street cited the terror threat faced by Swift in Vienna, which had forced her to cancel gigs on the Austria leg of her Eras tour, as one of the reasons Government was involved in security talks around her London shows.

Earlier this month, the PM announced he would cover the cost of around £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since entering office amid a fierce row over his various freebies.

Among the declarations he said he would pay back were four tickets to see Swift at Wembley, which were received on August 20 from UMG, the musician's record label.

A Met Police spokesperson said: 'The Met is operationally independent.

'Our decision-making is based on a thorough assessment of threat, risk and harm and the circumstances of each case.

'It is our longstanding position that we don't comment on the specific details of protective security arrangements.'

Sir Keir and his wife Victoria previously attended a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley on 21 June, during the singer's first run of shows at the stadium this summer.