Yvette Cooper made light of her involvement in ‘Taylorgate’, quipping that her husband advised her to ‘shake it off’. During a discussion about the controversy surrounding the US singer receiving a police escort, the Home Secretary referenced Taylor Swift’s song. She mentioned that her husband, Ed Balls, a former Labour Cabinet minister, recommended she ‘shake it off’ when she faces media scrutiny.
Ms Cooper shared, ‘Ed’s advice, echoing a superstar, was “Haters gonna hate, hate, hate. Shake it off. Shake it off”.’ She continued, ‘That’s our approach. We focus on our work and the changes we’re implementing nationwide.’
Last week, it was revealed that Ms Cooper was involved in discussions with Scotland Yard, resulting in officers providing a police escort for Ms Swift. Additionally, Ms Cooper attended one of the singer’s concerts at Wembley as a guest of her husband, who received four free tickets from Ms Swift’s record label, Universal.
TaylorGate Scandal Grows:
No police core for cabinet office probe into Taylor’s concert escort
Tsar say he ran the Met VIP unit previously and says all this stinks to high heaven, my question is where the hell is Yvette Cooper on all this why is she staying silent? pic.twitter.com/5Pq4TVzrO2— Getting Britain Moving (@UkandNireland) October 15, 2024
Ms Cooper didn’t need to disclose the perk in the MPs’ register of interests as it was valued at £170, below the £300 threshold for declarable gifts and hospitality. However, she did report it to the Home Office for the ministerial hospitality list, which will be published with other transparency data.
Labour insiders dismissed allegations of a conflict of interest, noting that Ms Swift had to cancel earlier shows in Austria due to a thwarted terror plot. ‘Any such suggestion demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the security context post-Vienna and is utter nonsense,’ one insider stated.
Last week, the Culture Secretary denied claims of undue influence by Ms Cooper. Lisa Nandy commented, ‘For major events, whether in London or elsewhere in the UK, the Home Secretary will discuss security risks.’
Senior Conservatives criticised Ms Cooper’s involvement, with leadership contender Robert Jenrick calling it ‘bizarre’.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Evening Standard reveals how Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour tickets were gifted to Labour leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, raising ethics concerns.(read more)
- Yahoo News reports Yvette Cooper jokingly cited her husband’s advice to “shake it off” over Taylor Swift’s VIP police protection at London concerts, emphasizing resilience and dismissing undue influence claims.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What is ‘Taylorgate’?
‘Taylorgate’ refers to the controversy over Taylor Swift receiving a police escort arranged by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
What did Yvette Cooper say about ‘Taylorgate’?
Cooper joked that her husband advised her to ‘shake it off,’ referencing a Taylor Swift song.
Why did Taylor Swift receive a police escort?
Security discussions with Scotland Yard led to the police escort due to security concerns.
Did Yvette Cooper attend a Taylor Swift concert?
Yes, Cooper attended a concert at Wembley with tickets provided by her husband.
Was there any conflict of interest in Yvette Cooper’s actions?
Labour insiders dismissed conflict of interest claims, citing security concerns post-Vienna.
