Lisa Nandy and Kay Burley in heated Sky News clash over freebie row

Lisa Nandy had a heated row with Sky News presenter Kay Burley over freebies.

The argument occurred while Ms Nandy was being questioned about reports that Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper had urged the Met Police to provide a blue-light escort for the singer to her Wembley shows during the summer.

Ms Nandy told Sky News: “When you have major events, whether in London or in other parts of the UK, the Home Secretary will be involved in a conversation where there is a security risk.

“I also know that she doesn’t have the power, nor would she use the power, to insist that any individual got the top level of private security arrangements. That is an operational matter for the police, not for the Government.

“The police made the decision. Ultimately, it is their decision, and nobody else can make it.”

But the Cabinet Minister ended up in a further heated exchange with Burley over the concert, reports the Express.

Ms Nandy, the Labour MP for Wigan, stated: "Most of Sky News was at these events in the same boxes as well to be completely fair."

Kay Burley interjected to ask who, to which Ms Nandy responded: "You were there."

Ms Burley retorted: "I paid for my tickets."

Ms Nandy responded: "He's [Starmer] paying for his tickets."

The presenter added that he "eventually paid for them". She continued: "I paid for mine upfront eight months earlier so please don't do that. Who else went apart from me from Sky?" Ms Nandy said: "I went and I've declared that in line with the ministerial code."

The presenter added: "But you don't work for Sky."

Last week, Downing Street announced that Sir Keir had repaid more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he had received since entering Number 10 following a controversy over ministerial donations.

The Prime Minister is covering the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four to the races and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.

The row came after the Sun reported that the Metropolitan Police’s special escort group had initially been reluctant to give the Cruel Summer singer the kind of protection normally reserved for senior royalty and politicians.

Ms Nandy added: “What I can tell you is that neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Secretary, nor the Mayor of London has the power to override the police on this matter. It is an operational decision for the police.

“They can put their own view. That’s certainly the case. But you would expect the Home Secretary and the Mayor of the city where this event is taking place, given the history of what had just happened in Vienna, to be involved in the conversation about security arrangements.”

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.

“It is our longstanding position that we don’t comment on the specific details of protective security arrangements.”