SWIFT UK performance 'royal' police guard...Suspicion of 'Government Pressure'

The Daily Times and Telegraph reported that Taylor Swift was under so-called "royal" police guard during a British performance, and that there were suspicions that there was pressure from a high-ranking member of the Labor Party government.

Swift was reportedly given VVIP security when she visited London for a Wembley Stadium performance in August.

VVIP security is only available to key members of the British royal family and senior cabinet members, and even Prince Harry, King Charles III's second son, has not been offered at all times since he stepped down from official royal duties in 2020.

Swift was scheduled to perform in Vienna, Austria, on August 8-10, prior to her London performance, but it was canceled just before due to the threat of terrorism.

It has since been reported that Swift's manager, mother Andria Swift, has asked for increased security ahead of the London show.

The Metropolitan Police Department was deemed to have no imminent threat of terrorism and reportedly opposed it on the grounds that it was not customary to provide VVIP security, which is used for taxpayers' money.

In response, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and London Mayor Sadiq Khan pressured the Metropolitan Police to provide VVIP security, the public newspaper The Sun said.

On top of that, controversy over security privileges heated up after it was revealed that senior Labor figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Minister Cooper and Mayor Khan, watched the Swift performance for free.

As the controversy grew, Starmer returned some of the costs, including tickets to Swift's shows.

However, Labour countered that the security of Swift was an "operational decision" made by the police and that it was due to security concerns such as the terror threat in Vienna and the Southport stabbings in the UK.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner explained, "It's not about who went to the concert," adding, "It's not about politicians, it's about making sure Swift is safe."