The row over Taylor Swift’s concert freebies has been hilariously extended for another day. Labour was forced to defend lobbying the police for a motorcade for Swift while accepting freebie tickets from her record label…
The optics weren’t as bad as they could have been yesterday seeing as everyone clarified that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper hadn’t taken freebie tickets to the concert – of the two, only Sadiq Khan had. Sky News’ Sam Coates reported last night that Ed Balls had though – and brought his wife along…
Now it’s clear that both Khan and Cooper received free premium tickets and pressed security services to do Swift a favour. Cooper didn’t declare them at the time as they fell under the threshold, though she now has. Was probably worth fessing up to when the first story broke…
Jonathan Reynolds is up on Good Morning Britain soon to answer an interviewer’s questions. Guido can think of just the man for the job…
UPDATE: Nandy yesterday, of course, was briefed that Cooper “didn’t attend the concerts.” Top quality briefing that…
Kay Burley and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy have been arguing on Sky News this morning over the ridiculousness of the government lobbying the police to give Taylor Swift a presidential-style motorcade to a gig. Tickets for which were being handed out by her record label to the PM and his ministers…
Nandy eventually caved under pressure and launched on an offensive:
“You know, we’re now in a situation where I mean you know most of Sky News was at these events in these same boxes as well to be completely fair.”
Burley hit back: “Who was there? I paid for my tickets. Don’t do that, no.” Nandy claimed Keir Starmer had paid for his too. A few weeks late, mind…
Nandy couldn’t name any other Sky personnel who went along for free when asked and ended with: “People can judge for themselves.“ A cruel summer for cronies…
The ever-insightful News Agents have released a new podcast analysing what Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris means for the US election. For Emily Maitlis, this has completely changed the game in way nothing else could, profoundly stating it “has just fundamentally changed the race” for any voter under 70-years-old. The Swiftie said:
“I mean be in no doubt this will rock the entire electoral axis in the States. This has just fundamentally changed the race, by I’m going to say pretty much anyone under-40, but maybe it’s anyone under-70, I don’t know, but I think it will. Look, this is undoubtedly huge news.”
It’s reminiscent of when Owen Jones (40) stated “Russell Brand has endorsed Labour – and the Tories should be worried”. Sadly for Ed Miliband, the celebrity backing wasn’t quite enough to clinch electoral victory in 2015. Clearly Emily hasn’t learned how overstating the power of a celebrity endorsement can leave a hack red-faced…
