BREAKING NEWS: Taylor Swift’s mother ‘negotiated police escort with Sue …… see more

Attorney general Lord Hermer was asked to step in after Scotland Yard warned giving Swift so-called VVIP protection would be a breach of the force’s protocols, according to reports.

During the talks, police argued there was no justification to offer Swift the protection because there was no specific threat against her, The Times reported.

The special protection, which provides an armed motorcycle escort, is usually only available for senior members of the government, heads of state and visiting foreign dignitaries.

But, after talks with Lord Hermer, the government’s top lawyer, Scotland Yard relented. The force is believed to had asked for advice about fears officers could be held responsible if pedestrians were injured or killed during the escort.

A source told the paper: “There were questions over the legality because the police were being asked to exercise their powers against usual protocol.”

Swift’s mother Andrea is said to have pushed for the police escort, reportedly threatening to cancel her London shows, amid safety concerns following a foiled alleged terror plot in Austria.

She reportedly negotiated a deal to provide security with Sir Keir’s Starmer’s then-chief of staff Sue Gray, according to The Sun.

Lord Hermer on Monday night said: “There is a convention that forms part of the ministerial code that prohibits me from saying whether I have advised ministers — and certainly prohibits me from saying what advice I might have given.”

Quizzed about the row on Monday, Mr Khan said police have “operational independence” but the government speaks “regularly” with the Met about security issues.

Mr Khan said: “What I’d say to people who aren’t aware is that our police have operational independence, whether it’s policing a protest, whether it’s policing a concert, a sporting event, New Year’s Eve fireworks.

“The Government – the Home Secretary is included in that – myself as the mayor, speak regularly with the Met Police Service about a whole host of security issues and, of course, we’re going to raise the issue of security around world-breaking concerts.”

Mr Khan said that in the wake of the terror threat made against her gigs in Vienna, and the Southport incident, that “we’ve got to make sure” those attending the concerts, as well as artists, are safe.

He added: “And so I’m sure the commissioner took on board a whole host of views before he himself, as the commissioner, himself decided what was right and proper to do, and that operational independence falls with the commissioner.”

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.