Met top cop holds ultimate responsibility for giving green light for VIP Taylor Swift escort, says Sadiq Khan
BRITAIN’S top police officer must carry the can for agreeing to give Taylor Swift a VIP escort, London’s mayor says.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has sole responsibility for operational matters, according to Sadiq Khan, who deflected claims he interfered in the decision.
He told a London assembly meeting that any suggestions about the US singer getting preferential treatment were for Sir Mark to answer.
He said: “Operational matters are matters for the police, not matters for the mayor, and I’ve never interfered in operational matters as far as the police are concerned.”
Police were said to have reluctantly given Taylor a VIP escort when she played concerts at Wembley during the summer.
The Met were said to have been urged to help by Khan and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper — both of whom had freebie tickets.
Cooper was given hers by TV star husband Ed Balls.
Swift’s mum and manager Andrea had threatened to axe the August shows unless a police convoy was provided.
It followed a foiled suicide bomb plot before a Swift gig in Vienna a week earlier.
The Met’s Special Escort Group of motorcyclists were initially reluctant to grant the VIP service, which comes at huge expense to taxpayers and is normally reserved for senior royals and politicians.
But we can reveal it was finally granted after talks at the top of government with the Met.
Insiders say the PM’s then-Chief of Staff Sue Gray played a key role in defusing the row.