The ‘row’ over Keir Starmer & his partner attending a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley is of course confected by a largely right-wing media. There are many reasons to criticise some of Starmer’s policies but the media attacks him simply because he is a Labour PM, as they would and have done with others who have done the job.
More specifically the media coverage as often reflects a complete ignorance of modern British history. With the rise of modern popular music from the 1950s politicians began to see the potential for popularity by making a link. Old Etonian Douglas Home who Harold Wilson beat at the 1964 Election certainly was not one for getting down with the kids. Wilson was however. He was pictured with the Beatles and on his suggestion they were awarded MBEs in June 1965 (Lennon handed his back in 1969).
Tony Blair fronted the rock band Ugly Rumours while at Oxford and when he became PM in 1997 began promoting Cool Britannia (1999) featuring Oasis, Blur etc.
Neil Kinnock was at least in the orbit of Red Wedge in the later 1980s, while Jeremy Corbyn made an appearance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury although thankfully we did not get to hear his rendition of Dylan’s Forever Young.
In short politicians, at least Labour ones, have courted pop music for 60 years. If Taylor Swift appears as heading a multi-million pound contract for Government business then will be the time to worry
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