<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="14486875" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="karl-mccartney" source="Orion">Karl McCartney</keyword> claimed £9,600 in expenses for payments to a mystery company called "A".</li><li>Last year, Insider revealed "A" stood for donor's firm Anagallis Communications, in previous claims.</li></ul><p>A Conservative MP recently appointed as a transport minister has handed almost £10,000 of publicly-funded expenses to a mystery firm.</p><p>Karl McCartney has made two claims of £4,800 each in March 2021 for "Provision of Professional and Administrative Services - A", data published by Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (<keyword id="12298376" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ipsa" source="Orion">IPSA</keyword>) show. </p><p>The name of the business is not known, however <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-expenses-claim-donors-firm-2021-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">Insider has previously revealed how McCartney attempted to hide details</a> for two expenses claims of £4800 each to Anagallis Communications. This firm is run by Nigel Szembel, who helped fund McCartney's first campaign to <keyword id="11893698" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword> in 2010. </p><p>In the original IPSA filings, also for two claims for "Provision of Professional and Administrative Services", the firm was listed simply on the register as "A".</p><p>Invoices disclosed through freedom of information show the A in that case was Anagallis Communications.</p><p>If A is being used again to represent Anagallis, McCartney will have handed the firm a total of £40,800 of taxpayer money.  </p><p>McCartney was recently appointed as a junior minister in the Department for Transport, his first government position since he was elected in 2010. His page on gov.uk <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--155#responsibilities">suggests he currently has no responsibilities</a>. He is in line for a £5,618.75 pay out should he lose his role when the next prime minister begins their premiership in September.</p><p>Anneliese Dodds, the chair of the Labour Party, said Insider's findings raised concerns about McCartney's approach to transparency.</p><p>"This isn't the first time questions have been raised about why Karl McCartney appears to be dishing out dosh to a firm run by one of his donors," she added. </p><p>"As a newly-appointed transport minister, he is now responsible for tens of millions of pounds of taxpayer-funded projects. The least the public can expect is basic transparency over the expenses he enjoys as an MP."</p><p>Despite the relationship between McCartney and Szembel, IPSA's rules were not breached by McCartney awarding the work to Szembel.</p><p>Insider has also previously revealed how McCartney failed to properly declare his links to a family firm called "Moonlighting Systems". The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-broke-rules-watchdog-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">McCartney breached the rules of the House of Commons three times</a>.</p><p>McCartney's office and Anagallis Communications did not respond to Insider's request for comment.</p>

New transport minister gave nearly £10,000 of taxpayer cash to unnamed business through MPs expenses

<ul class="summary-list"><li>EXCLUSIVE: Conservative MP <keyword id="11298869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="karl-mccartney">Karl McCartney</keyword> is under investigation by Parliament's sleaze watchdog.</li><li>For more than a decade, McCartney has concealed his links to a family firm called Moonlighting Systems.</li><li>The probe comes following an Insider investigation into McCartney's expenses and registered interests.</li></ul><p>The Conservative MP Karl McCartney is under investigation by Parliament's sleaze watchdog after an Insider investigation revealed that he had made false declarations for more than a decade about his links to a family firm.</p><p><a href="https://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=24790">Since he was first elected in 2010</a>, McCartney has declared links to a firm he listed as ML Systems, an IT management and consultancy company, as an unpaid director and shareholder.</p><p>He declared payment for work done prior to his election in 2019, with the fee registered as being paid to the company.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labour-demand-inquiry-into-conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-2021-6">However, an investigation by Insider revealed</a> that McCartney was in fact tied to a different company, <a href="https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03666934/filing-history">Moonlighting Systems</a>, whose sole director is McCartney's brother, Kevin.</p><p>Karl McCartney is listed as a secretary of the company and a minority shareholder.</p><p>Following Insider's reporting, <keyword id="11363358" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="anneliese-dodds">Anneliese Dodds</keyword> MP, the chair of the <keyword id="67790" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Labour-Party">Labour Party</keyword>, wrote to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (PCS) asking for an investigation to be opened.</p><p>Now the PCS has <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/allegations-currently-under-investigation-by-the-commissioner/">listed McCartney as being under investigation</a> regarding a issue of "registration of interest."</p><p>Before the PCS announced her investigation, Dodds told Insider: "If Karl McCartney is moonlighting, we need to know who for - and he shouldn't hide behind the name of a company that no longer exists.</p><p>"The rules are there for a reason, the Conservatives can't just act as if they don't apply to them."</p><p>In <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09kzthw">an interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire</a>, McCartney said: "It's all open and above board. I've got nothing to hide.</p><p>"That's the Labour Party for you. They'll throw as much mud as they can. My declaration on my register of members interests has been there for 11 years, obviously, since I was first elected. And it's exactly the same as it was back then as it is now."</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-expenses-claim-donors-firm-2021-6">Insider also revealed</a> McCartney had claimed more than £30,000 in public funds for Parliamentary work carried out by a company run by a donor who helped him become an MP in 2010. </p><p>McCartney concealed nearly £10,000 of those claims by declaring only that he was paying "A", short for the real name of the company, Anagallis Communications. </p><p>But this will not be investigated by either the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards or the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, as they say it does not breach rules on expenses claims.</p><p>Insider has contacted McCartney for comment, who has repeatedly declined to comment.</p><p>There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by McCartney's brother or Moonlighting Systems.</p>

Conservative MP Karl McCartney under investigation by Parliament's sleaze watchdog for hiding links to family firm

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Labour has asked the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate Conservative MP <keyword id="11298869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="karl-mccartney">Karl McCartney</keyword>.</li><li>Insider has revealed McCartney made apparently false declarations in his parliamentary register of interests.</li><li>Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds told Insider: "If Karl McCartney is moonlighting, we need to know who for."</li></ul><p>The UK Labour Party has urged Parliament's sleaze watchdog to investigate Conservative MP Karl McCartney after he appeared to make false declarations about his links to a family firm, Moonlighting Limited.</p><p>Insider has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-expenses-claim-donors-firm-2021-6">previously reported</a> that McCartney claimed more than £30,000 in public funds for Parliamentary work carried out by a company run by a donor to his first campaign to become a member of parliament.</p><p>McCartney has also declared that he is an "unpaid director of ML Systems Ltd", an IT management and consultancy firm, which is now dissolved.</p><p>However, Insider discovered that McCartney's entry in fact refers to a different active company named Moonlighting Systems Limited, whose sole director is McCartney's brother, Kevin.</p><p>McCartney is listed as a secretary of that company, and a minority shareholder.  Companies House records show McCartney has not been a director of Moonlighting Systems since 1999.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-expenses-claim-donors-firm-2021-6">Insider previously revealed</a> that McCartney also appeared to hide the name of another company in his expenses claims, providing only the letter A to refer to Anagallis Communications, a firm run by a donor.</p><p>Following Insider's investigation, the chair of the Labour Party, Anneliese Dodds, has asked Kathryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate if McCartney has broken House of Commons rules.</p><p>In her letter, seen by Insider, Dodds writes: "Karl McCartney has held a role at his family business for over twenty years, yet has omitted its full name from his register of financial interests. I am sure you will agree that it is in the public interest that Members of Parliament accurately register their financial interests. </p><p>"A member of the public seeking to understand those interests in relation to the Member for Lincoln may currently be led to believe that he is part of a company that is no longer trading. The Member for Lincoln's failure to register the full and proper name for the company he does represent could also mislead, as could his inaccurate description of his current role."</p><p>She asks: "Does the Parliamentary Commissioner of Standards consider this to be an acceptable entry in the Members' Register of Financial Interests? If not, can you set out what steps you intend to take to compel the Member for Lincoln to correct the record?"</p><p>She told Insider: "If Karl McCartney is moonlighting, we need to know who for - and he shouldn't hide behind the name of a company that no longer exists. </p><p>"The rules are there for a reason, the Conservatives can't just act as if they don't apply to them."</p><p>McCartney's declaration of Moonlighting Systems as ML Systems dates back to when he was first elected in 2010. </p><p>Insider approached McCartney for comment but did not receive any response by the time of publication.</p><p>There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Moonlighting Systems or McCartney's brother.</p>

Labour demands investigation into whether Conservative MP Karl McCartney hid links to family firm

<ul class="summary-list"><li>EXCLUSIVE: Conservative MP <keyword id="11298869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="karl-mccartney">Karl McCartney</keyword> failed to publicly declare £10,000 expenses claim was handed to a donor's firm.</li><li>Insider can reveal the company described by McCartney as "A" in his expenses claims is actually Anagallis Communications.</li><li>Anagallis is run by Nigel Szembel, who helped fund his first campaign to become an MP.</li></ul><p>A Conservative Member of <keyword id="6354721" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="parliament">Parliament</keyword> claimed nearly £10,000 of Parliamentary expenses for work given to one of his campaign donors while failing to publicly declare who was receiving the money, an investigation by Insider has found.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-20k-expenses-for-donors-firm-2021-5?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">In May, Insider revealed</a> Karl McCartney had claimed £21,600 of taxpayer money for "administrative services" from Anagallis Communications between January to June of 2020.</p><p>Anagallis Communications is operated by Nigel Szembel, who gave McCartney £4,000 towards his first campaign to become a member of parliament.</p><p>However, Insider can reveal McCartney claimed for a further £9,600 of spending with Anagallis Communications, while not publicly declaring that the company would receive the money.</p><p>Expenses claims published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (<keyword id="1508350" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Ipsa">IPSA</keyword>) show McCartney made claims for "Provision of Professional and Administrative Services" from a company listed simply on the register as "A" in October and November 2020.</p><p>McCartney provided no further detail for the public register, as to who or what "A" is. Previous claims had provided the name of the company.</p><p>However, two invoices disclosed to Insider following a Freedom of Information request, reveal that "A" is actually Anagallis Communications.</p><p>The total of £31,200 spent in bought-in staffing services by McCartney with Anagallis is nearly a third of McCartney's total amount claimed on expenses for bought-in services - £101,290 - in 2020 according to IPSA records. </p><p>Insider asked McCartney why the name of the company had not been publicly declared but did not receive a response.</p><p>As well as operating Anagallis Communications, Szembel is lead of press relations at Augmentum, a fintech firm. Last June, while McCartney was paying for Szembel's services, McCartney <a href="https://twitter.com/karlmccartney/status/1271708298442612736">tweeted a story</a> from "Mega Yachts Fan" about technology entrepreneurs, in particular those in fintech.  </p><p>"Handled correctly, all will share in 'new wealth'", he said in his tweet.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Karl McCartney  (@karlmccartney) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1271708298442612736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2020</a></blockquote><p>This piece included a section on three venture capital firms in the fintech world, including Augmentum. This appears to be McCartney's only reported public comment on fintech or mega yachts.</p><p>Under parliamentary rules, MPs must adhere to the MPs' Code of Conduct, including the seven principles of public life," including "accountability and "openness."</p><p>Opposition politicians questioned why McCartney had not fully declared his expenses.</p><p>Anneliese Dodds MP, chair of the Labour Party, told Insider: "Karl McCartney said 'all will share in new wealth' if 'handled correctly'. But when it comes to his expenses, it seems he's sharing the wealth with a former donor who helped him become an MP. </p><p>"The public will make their own mind up about whether that counts as handling his expenses correctly, but Mr McCartney should be transparent and upfront about who he's paying to run his office in line with IPSA rules."</p><p>IPSA's rules make no requirements for MPs to declare pre-existing links to companies they award work to, aside from restrictions on close family members and partners of MPs.</p><p>Tom Brake, a former Liberal Democrat MP and director of Unlock Democracy, told Insider: "MPs, because of the nature of their work and their profiles, have to be extremely careful with public money. They have to go that extra mile. </p><p>"In the public's mind, taking money from a donor and awarding the same donor a contract, paid for by the taxpayer, even when there is no breach of the rules, fails the accountability test."</p><p>There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Augmentum.</p><h2>McCartney and Moonlighting</h2><div type="image" title="Karl McCartney MP" height="782" width="1564" msid="83753805" hostid="261"></div>McCartney's lack of transparency in his Parliamentary records is not limited to expenses claims for work done by his donor.<p>Further investigation of McCartney's entries on the Register of Members' Interests reveals consistent declarations of links to a company he calls "ML Systems Ltd".</p><p>Upon his election in 2010, McCartney disclosed he was director of ML Systems Ltd, an IT management and consultancy firm, and a former employee of the company. </p><p>Following his election in 2019, McCartney declared he was an unpaid director of ML Systems Ltd, and that he had a small shareholding in the company below the registrable threshold that generates a dividend. He added to his entry a payment of £3,700 from a firm he had provided advice to prior to the election, with his fee being paid to ML Systems Ltd.</p><p>The company registered as ML Systems Limited with Companies House was dissolved in 2015. It had previously, from its incorporation in 2009 to 2013, been known as Rugs R Us Limited. McCartney is not listed as a former director of ML Systems Limited. </p><p>However, Insider has established that the ML Systems Ltd referred to is a company primarily owned by McCartney's brother called MoonLighting Systems Ltd. McCartney is registered as a secretary in the company, incorporated in 1998. The most recent list of shareholders shows McCartney has a 3% shareholding in Moonlighting Systems Ltd.</p><p>McCartney did not respond to a request for comment.</p><p><em>Have you come across similar spending by other MPs? Contact the reporter of this story with tips at <a href="mailto:hdyer@insider.com">hdyer@insider.com. </a></em></p>

Conservative MP Karl McCartney hid fact he handed £10,000 expenses claim to donor

<ul class="summary-list"><li>EXCLUSIVE: Conservative MP <keyword id="11298869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="karl-mccartney">Karl McCartney</keyword> claimed £21,600 of parliamentary <keyword id="6380337" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="expenses">expenses</keyword> for services from a firm founded by a campaign donor</li><li>Anagallis Communications' founder gave McCartney £4,000 towards his first successful election campaign.</li><li>Campaigners TaxPayers' Alliance told Insider: "MPs should not be paying for professional services from firms that have made political donations to their election campaigns.</li></ul><p>Conservative Member of <keyword id="6354721" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="parliament">Parliament</keyword> Karl McCartney awarded more than £20,000 of taxpayer money to a company run by a donor who helped fund his first election campaign, an investigation by Insider has found.</p><p>Examination of the MP for Lincoln's spending returns reveals that from January to June of 2020, McCartney claimed for £21,600 of "administrative services" from Anagallis Communications. </p><p>The sole director, shareholder, and CEO of Anagallis Communications, Nigel Szembel, gave McCartney £4,000 in early 2010, prior to his successful campaign to oust his Labour Party predecessor, Gillian Meron.</p><p>Invoices disclosed through a Freedom of Information request reveal Anagallis provided "administrative office and external meeting support services, high-level meeting attendance, strategy formulation and participation in London and Lincoln and daily Media Management. Administration of various requirements to support the Member of Parliament in securing successful outcomes for local issues and projects and constituency casework issues."</p><p>These services were provided at £200 a day plus VAT. In January 2020, McCartney claimed for £7,200 towards them. In February and March he claimed a further £4,800 each month. In June 2020, McCartney claimed for another £4,800. </p><h2><strong>"Handled correctly, all will share in 'new wealth'"</strong></h2><div type="image" title="megayachts" height="1240" width="2480" msid="82839292" hostid="261"></div>Szembel is also lead of press relations at Augmentum, a fintech firm. Last June, while McCartney was paying for Szembel's professional services, McCartney <a href="https://twitter.com/karlmccartney/status/1271708298442612736">tweeted a link</a> to a piece from the site "Mega Yachts Fan" about technology entrepreneurs, in particular those in fintech. <p>"Handled correctly, all will share in 'new wealth'", he said in his tweet.</p><p>This piece included a section on three venture capital firms in the fintech world, including Augmentum. This appears to be McCartney's only public comment on fintech or mega yachts. </p><p>There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Augmentum.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Karl McCartney  (@karlmccartney) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1271708298442612736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2020</a></blockquote><p>No rules exist explicitly forbidding MPs from handing contracts to run their Parliamentary offices to companies run by individuals who give them political donations and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by McCartney or Szembel. </p><p>However, <keyword id="1508350" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Ipsa">IPSA</keyword> handbook on expenses states that MPs must act with "probity" and campaigners say they must do more to ensure they do not reward donors at taxpayers' expense.</p><p>James Roberts, political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, told Insider: "MPs should not be paying for professional services from firms that have made political donations to their election campaigns."</p><p>Susan Hawley, executive director of Spotlight on Corruption, told Insider: "This looks potentially quite unsavoury. MPs should never be doling out contracts to, or using services at public expense, of those who have donated personally to their campaigns."</p><p>Steve Goodrich, head of research and investigations at Transparency International UK, said: "It is incumbent on all Members of Parliament to uphold the highest standards of probity, especially when it comes to the management of taxpayers' funds. Parliamentarians should scrupulously avoid the perception, or reality, that they are seeking to reward their donors via the public purse."</p><p>Karl McCartney and Nigel Szembel did not respond to requests for comment.</p><p><em>Have you come across similar spending by other Members of Parliament? Please contact the reporter of this story at </em><a href="mailto:hdyer@insider.com"><em>hdyer@insider.com</em></a>. </p>

Conservative MP Karl McCartney claimed £20,000 in expenses for work done by campaign donor's firm

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Conservative MP Karl McCartney failed to properly declare his links to Moonlighting Systems.</li><li>A Parliamentary watchdog has found McCartney breached transparency rules three times.</li></ul><p>A Conservative MP breached the rules of the House of Commons three times in failing to properly declare his links to a family firm, Moonlighting Systems, <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/pcfs/rectifications/mr-karl-mccartney-mp-rectification.pdf">Parliament's sleaze watchdog found</a>.</p><p>Karl McCartney's failure to properly declare his interests were first uncovered in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labour-demand-inquiry-into-conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-2021-6?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">an investigation by Insider</a>, which led to the probe by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone.</p><p>Stone opened her investigation following a letter from Anneliese Dodds MP, the Labour Party Chair.</p><p>Stone found McCartney, the MP for Lincoln from 2010 to 2017, and again since 2019, breached the rules in three ways:</p><ol><li>McCartney described his shareholding and role as being with "ML Systems", not Moonlighting Systems. The use of a shortened version of the company's name was a breach of the rules.</li><li>McCartney said he was a director at the firm, despite being registered at Companies House as a company secretary, and not as a director.</li><li>McCartney used the shortened version of the company's name to register a payment of £3,700 for work he carried out prior to his election in 2019.</li></ol><p>McCartney's description of having links to ML Systems was especially confusing given there was a separate company registered at Companies House as ML Systems, to which he has no link.</p><p>ML Systems ceased trading in 2015, and was previously known as Rugs R Us.</p><p>In the wake of the probe, McCartney apologized for "two specific breaches," seemingly not acknowledging that there were three. McCartney did not respond to a request for comment by Insider.</p><p>The Commissioner decided that McCartney's breaches were minor and so could be addressed by making a corrected entry in the Register of Members Interests, placed in bold.</p><p>Separately to McCartney's failures to declare his interests, Insider has also reported on how McCartney handed more than £30,000 of taxpayers' money to a campaign donor.</p><p>He <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-expenses-claim-donors-firm-2021-6?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">also abbreviated the company's name</a>, Anagallis Communications, in expenses claims for £9,600 of work done by the firm, to just "A". This expenditure of public money was not part of the Commissioner's investigation.</p><p>Correspondence between McCartney and Stone released as part of the Commissioner's report shows the dismissive nature McCartney took towards Insider's reporting of his failures to adequately declare his interests.</p><p>McCartney described <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/labour-demand-inquiry-into-conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-2021-6?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">Insider's original report</a> as a "news story" with inverted commas around the word "news," and appeared to suggest partisan motivation by calling Insider "media associated with the Chairman of the Labour Party".</p><p>Insider is not affiliated with any political party. Insider approached Labour with the story, not the reverse.</p><p>McCartney told Stone that "as with everything there is a level of individual interpretation and how pedantic one might wish to be".</p><p>He also said he wished to update his entry to "remove the likelihood of any possible further pernicious mischief-making that the Labour Party took 11 years to bring to your attention in this instance".</p>

Tory MP Karl McCartney broke parliamentary rules 3 times, sleaze watchdog rules after Insider investigation

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Publication of MPs expenses has been paused indefinitely, with a planned release in May now unlikely.</li><li>Details of claims were halted after the murder of Sir David Amess in October 2021.</li></ul><p>The details of how MPs spend taxpayers' money to pay for their offices and second homes will continue to go unpublished beyond May, after not being published since September 2021.</p><p>The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (<keyword id="12298376" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ipsa" source="Orion">IPSA</keyword>), which is responsible for verifying and publishing expense claims from MPs, was due to publish details of claims in May, the first time it had published expenses details in nearly eight months.</p><p>IPSA previously published claims every two months, but paused publication following the murder of Sir David Amess. The expenses watchdog also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/parliament-expenses-watchdog-hides-details-mp-spending-transparency-fears-2021-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">removed the detail of already published expenses claims going back to 2010</a>. </p><p>IPSA said it would publish expenses claims once a security review, launched after Amess's murder, had concluded, and <a href="https://twitter.com/Direthoughts/status/1500820844871884806">suggested this might come by the new tax year starting in April 2022</a>.</p><p>But minutes of an IPSA board meeting on March 2 reveal that the review, run by Parliament's Members Security Support Services, had not yet concluded. </p><p>IPSA's board agreed to "await the results of MSSS' security review before resuming bimonthly publication and deciding in what form this might proceed." At the time, the board believed the review might conclude at the end of March. </p><p>But a Parliamentary source, given anonymity to speak frankly about security matters, told Insider that there were "are on-going changes to MPs' security arrangements". They said that "MPs will be updated in the coming weeks". </p><p>An IPSA spokesperson told Insider they had not yet heard a publication date for the security review.</p><p>Campaigners say the data should be released as soon as possible.</p><p>Rose Whiffen, research officer at Transparency International UK, told Insider: "While the safety and security of our elected officials is of paramount importance, opacity over MPs' expenses should not become the status quo.</p><p>"Transparency is vital to guard against the misuse of public funds by shining a light on those who abuse the system, as well as deterring others from doing the same.</p><p>"History illustrates vividly the need for openness around expenses, so this data should be released as soon as possible."</p><p>Some MPs have criticised the publication scheme, saying <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-mps-say-publishing-expenses-is-like-being-bullied-2022-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">it is equivalent "to bullying"</a>.</p><p>Insider has reported a number of stories on MPs expenses using data released by IPSA, including a series of stories on how Karl McCartney, Conservative MP for Lincoln, claimed in expenses for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-mp-karl-mccartney-expenses-claim-donors-firm-2021-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">more than £30,000 of taxpayers' money for work he handed to a donor's firm</a>.</p>

Publication of MPs expenses paused indefinitely after security review rumbles on

<ul class="summary-list"><li>22 Tory MPs who voted to overhaul the standards process had been probed by Parliament's watchdog.</li><li>19 of the 22 had claims against them upheld by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.</li></ul><p>22 Conservative MPs who voted for to overhaul Parliament's standards processes have been investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, research by Insider has found.</p><p>British lawmakers voted Wednesday on a backbench amendment to a motion that would have suspended Owen Paterson, a Conservative MP, from the House of Commons for 30 days.</p><p>The 30-day suspension was recommended by the Standards Committee after it found Paterson committed an "egregious" breach of the rules by lobbying the government on behalf of companies paying him a £100,000 a year salary.</p><p>But in an extraordinary intervention, Boris Johnson's government instructed Conservative MPs to support an amendment that paused Paterson's punishment and introduced a process to overhaul the Parliamentary standards regime.</p><p>Of the 250 Tory MPs that voted for the amendment, 22 MPs are either under current investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards or have had allegations upheld against them since the 2019 general election.</p><p>The amendment only passed by 18 votes, meaning if these MPs had abstained, the amendment would have failed.</p><p>The following 19 MPs <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/allegations-the-commissioner-has-rectified/rectifications-latest/">have had allegations upheld against them</a>:</p><ul><li>Adam Afriyie</li><li>Scott Benton</li><li>Crispin Blunt</li><li>Peter Bone</li><li>Maria Caulfield</li><li>Robert Courts</li><li>Richard Drax</li><li>David Duguid</li><li>Iain Duncan Smith</li><li>Mark Francois</li><li>George Freeman</li><li>Adam Holloway</li><li>Karl McCartney</li><li>Natalie Elphicke</li><li>Roger Gale</li><li>Theresa Villiers</li><li>Bob Stewart</li><li>Chloe Smith</li><li>Craig Tracey</li></ul><p>The following three are <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/allegations-currently-under-investigation-by-the-commissioner/">currently under investigation</a>:</p><ul><li>James Cleverly</li><li>Daniel Kawczynski</li><li>David Warburton</li></ul><p>Downing Street said they hope to see an appeals process introduced in the interest of "natural justice", but deny their support for the amendment today had anything to do with Paterson.</p><p>Labour and the Scottish National Party have said they will not be taking their seats in the new select committee, leaving it solely to the Conservatives.</p><p>Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat chief whip, told Insider: "The Government's decision to whip the vote supporting Owen Paterson is shameful. The report was the outcome of an investigation that clearly concluded he had broken the rules. It was fair and independent.</p><p>"I stood in the voting lobby with several Conservative colleagues who clearly disagreed with their own government. The fact that the margin of success can be accounted for by those who are under investigation or have had complaints upheld, shows that governments and MPs should not be allowed to mark their own homework.</p><p>"Climate Change and coming out of the Pandemic are just two issues where trust in politicians is essential. Owen Paterson and the Government's defence of him will inevitably damage what little trust is left."</p><p>Angela Rayner, the Labour deputy leader, <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelaRayner/status/1455936843216834565">said after the vote that the Conservatives</a> "voted to give a green light to corruption" and "brought shame on our democracy."</p>

22 Tory MPs who were investigated or punished by Parliament's watchdog joined the vote to overhaul it

<ul class="summary-list"><li>MPs will soon debate the Elections Bill, which would let ministers set policy for the Electoral Commission.</li><li>A former MI5 chief called it "an extremely dangerous thing to do," like "giving a toddler a gun."</li><li>Labour says Boris Johnson's government is trying to "rig democracy" with it.</li></ul><p>The proposal by Boris Johnson's Conservative Party to let government ministers set priorities for the Electoral Commission, the UK elections watchdog, is an attempt to "rig democracy," the opposition Labour Party has said.</p><p>The criticism comes as Johnson's government is seeking to pass its Elections Bill, which critics say would weaken the regulator's independence. Here's how it would work:</p><ul><li>The bill would allow the government to issue a strategy and policy statement to the Electoral Commission.</li><li>The commission's adherence to this statement would then be judged by the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (SCEC), a statutory body consisting of MPs.</li><li>The bill, if passed, would then reinforce the Conservative majority on the committee and allow another government minister to join it.</li></ul><p>Unlike select committees, which scrutinise the work of departments, SCEC includes ministers and, for the first time since its creation in 2000, has a majority of its nine members from the Conservative Party.</p><p>SCEC currently has five Conservative MPs, including two ministers: Michael Gove, the top Cabinet Office minister, and Luke Hall, a minister in the housing ministry.</p><p>A third member, William Wragg, is there by virtue of being chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC), which covers the work of the Cabinet Office.</p><p>The other two, Karl McCartney and Craig Mackinlay, have both been openly critical of the Electoral Commission. McCartney and Mackinlay were both investigated for election expenses infractions following the 2015 general election. </p><p>Following his exoneration in 2017, McCartney called for "heads to roll" at the Commission, <a href="https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2017/05/karl-mccartney-exonerated-by-cps-after-tory-election-fraud-investigation/">The Lincolnite reported</a>. If senior figures at the Commission did not resign, he would take "every opportunity after the General Election to persuade the newly-elected Government to abolish this incompetent organisation," he said.</p><p>Mackinlay wrote on <a href="https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/as-i-found-out-to-my-cost-the-electoral-commission-is-unfit-for-purpose">PoliticsHome</a> after his 2019 acquittal that the Electoral Commission was "unfit for purpose".</p><p>The bill contains provisions that could allow a third minister to attend the committee.</p><h2>'An extremely dangerous thing to do'</h2><p>The Labour Party says the Elections Bill was the government's attempt to "stac[k] the deck" in its favour, while a former head of MI5 warned that the changes would be akin to "giving a toddler a gun."</p><p>Cat Smith MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Democracy, told Insider: "The Conservatives' Elections Bill threatens to end the independence of the Electoral Commission.</p><p>"For the first time, the Speaker's Committee has an in-built government majority which will only be strengthened by adding a Government Minister to the membership. The direction of the independent watchdog is set to be hijacked by the Conservatives. </p><p>"This is yet another example of the Conservatives stacking the deck in their favour to rig democracy."</p><p>Lord Evans, chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and a former head of MI5, told PACAC on Tuesday that there were "serious misgivings" about the government's setting strategy and policy for the Commission.</p><p>"Some of the proposals in this legislation would increase the one-party majority on the Speaker's Committee. This is a bit like giving a toddler a gun," the Crossbench peer said.</p><p>"It may not immediately lead to disaster, but it's an extremely dangerous thing to do. We do not think the current proposals go far enough in protecting the independence of the Electoral Commission."</p><p>Alistair Carmichael MP, political and constitutional spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, told Insider: "Parliamentary scrutiny means little if the government is just going to pack the committees with its cronies. Still less so when they bypass traditional oversight by the Speaker's Committee.</p><p>"Electoral reform is an issue that should always be tackled on a cross-party basis, to prevent even the hint of suspicion that one party is rigging the system in its favour. That the Conservatives do not recognise this principle and are instead attempting to bring all independent scrutiny under their thumb should be a cause for alarm.</p><p>"Perhaps they do not realise that these rules will hurt them just as much when they are in opposition in the future - or perhaps they are arrogant enough to believe that they will never lose the power to which they feel so entitled."</p><p>Insider previously reported how the Elections Bill would <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-loophole-tax-exiles-to-fund-uk-elections-2021-7?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">allow tax exiles to continue funding British political parties for longer</a>, and could open up <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elections-bill-could-see-overseas-voters-flock-to-marginal-seats-2021-7?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">marginal constituencies to abuse by overseas voters</a>.</p><p>A Cabinet Office spokesperson told Insider: "The changes will not give the Government new powers to direct the Electoral Commission's decision-making. It is common for the Government to set a framework which independent regulators work to."</p><p>Lord Evans said on Tuesday that comparisons between the Electoral Commission and other regulators were a "completely false analogy."</p><p>"This is not a regulator that is there for implementing government policy. This is an Electoral Commission that needs to be independent of government," he told PACAC.</p><p>"This is not a party-political point, this is a point to do with the overall integrity of our electoral system. We are therefore extremely concerned about this proposal."</p>

Boris Johnson is trying to 'rig democracy' with a new bill that would weaken the independence of the elections watchdog, critics say

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c6c3b4e262898670e38f284-834/ap0411120926.jpg" border="0" alt="Karl Lagerfeld x H&amp;M" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Bernd Kammerer" /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Bernd Kammerer</span></p><p class="caption">Customers shopping Lagerfeld's collection at H&amp;M in Frankfurt in November 2004.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Iconic fashion designer <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/karl-lagerfeld-dead-french-media-report-2019-2">Karl Lagerfeld</a> died aged 85 early <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/karl-lagerfeld-dead-french-media-report-2019-2">Tuesday</a> morning. </strong></li><li><strong>Lagerfeld was best known for being the creative director of Chanel. He also designed for Fendi and his own namesake brand. </strong></li><li><strong>In 2004, he launched a collection with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/hm">H&amp;M</a> to make his designs more accessible. It sold out almost instantly. </strong></li></ul><p>Karl Lagerfeld was widely considered one of the most, if not <em>the </em>most, iconic fashion designers of our time.</p><p>On Tuesday, Paolo Righi, the CEO of Karl Lagerfeld, mourned the loss of the brand's former leader, who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/karl-lagerfeld-dead-french-media-report-2019-2">died earlier that day in Paris</a>.</p><p>"The world has lost an icon," he said in a statement. "Karl Lagerfeld was a creative genius; he was influential, curious, powerful, and passionate. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as one of the greatest designers of our time."</p><p><span style="color: #222222;">Lagerfeld's career in the fashion industry spanned <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/karl-lagerfeld-obituary">seven decades;</a> he will be best known for designing for some of the most exclusive brands on the market including Chanel, Fendi, and his own namesake brand. What is lesser known, however, is that Lagerfeld also made a brief foray into the fast-fashion world as he attempted to make his work more accessible to the mass market. </span><span style="color: #222222;"></span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c6c3baa70a61e3d27437c54-900/ap04111204755.jpg" border="0" alt="H&amp;M Karl Lagerfeld" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Bernd Kammerer" /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Bernd Kammerer</span></p><p class="caption">The collection included T-shirts with Lagerfeld' face on them.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="color: #222222;">In November 2004, Lagerfeld launched a collection with fast-fashion retailer H&amp;M. These items, which included T-shirts with Lagerfeld's face cartooned onto them ($19.90) and a sleek sequin jacket ($129), <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/truly-fast-fashion-h-m-8217-s-lagerfeld-line-sells-out-in-hours-593089/">cost a fraction of the price</a> of his previous designs and were sold at stores across Europe and the US.</span></p><p>It sold out almost instantly.</p><p>"We've been operating this business for some 60 years and we've never seen anything like it," Jörgen Andersson, who was H&amp;M's marketing director at the time, told <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/truly-fast-fashion-h-m-8217-s-lagerfeld-line-sells-out-in-hours-593089/">WWD</a> in 2004. "We are as surprised as the customer."</p><p><span>A month later, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/dec/15/money2">H&amp;M announced that worldwide sales were up by 24%;</a> a spokesperson told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/dec/15/money2">The Guardian</a> the chain was "very pleased" with demand for these designs. </span></p><p>The same could not be said for Lagerfeld, however. In an interview<span> with German magazine Stern, as referenced by <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/lagerfelds-high-street-split">Vogue</a>, he</span> accused the retailer of "snobbery."</p><p><span>"It was great to work with the people at H&amp;M as we all helped each other to make it a success," he said. "But the incomprehensible decisions of the management in Stockholm have taken away any desire to do it again. They did not make the clothes in sufficient quantities."</span></p><p><span>He continued: "I find it embarrassing that H&amp;M let down so many people… I don't think that is very kind, especially for people in small towns and countries in eastern Europe. I</span><span>t is snobbery created by anti-snobbery." </span></p><p><span>But H&amp;M stands by its decision to keep it relatively exclusive with less inventory. In a statement emailed to Business Insider on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the brand said: "Our designer collaborations are always meant to surprise our customers. They are meant to be unique and limited collections. We always want to keep up the momentum and surprise factor of the collaborations which is why we partner with a new designer every year."</span></p><p>Since its first designer collaboration with Lagerfeld, H&amp;M has partnered with a host of high-end labels including Versace, Balmain, and <a href="http://about.hm.com/en/media/news/stella_mccartney_in_design_collaboration_with_hm.html"></a>Stella McCartney.</p><p>On Tuesday, H&amp;M's creative advisor, <span>Margareta van den Bosch, released a statement that reflected on her time working with Lagerfeld.</span></p><p><span> "</span><span>It saddens me to hear that Karl has passed away, he will be greatly missed," she said. "He remains an icon and his contribution to fashion cannot be underestimated. I fondly remember the first meetings we had when discussing the collaboration</span> H&amp;M<span> did with him in 2004."</span></p><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/future-of-retail-ai?IR=T&amp;utm_source=businessinsider&amp;utm_medium=ctgr&amp;utm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_content=ecommerce_ctgr_leadgen&amp;utm_campaign=ecommerce_ctgr_leadgen_future-of-retail-ai"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5bd9f37e5f1f7538f668523b" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: Future of Retail:AI by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wasabi-expensive-sushi-what-is-wasabi-paste-plant-2019-1">Wasabi is so expensive that the paste you eat with your sushi probably has less than 5% of the real thing</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/BD4jtQQ7-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Karl Lagerfeld once worked with H&M to make fashion more approachable, but he said he was ultimately let down by the giant retailer

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Princess <keyword id="12095922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="grace-kelly" source="Orion">Grace Kelly</keyword>'s granddaughter opened <keyword id="11984945" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="chanel" source="Orion">Chanel</keyword>'s Paris show by riding a horse down the runway. </li><li>Charlotte Casiraghi is an experienced equestrian and rode her 8-year-old steed.</li></ul><p>An animal-rights organization is criticizing Chanel for using a horse to open its <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZMGdalK0Wd/">couture show at Paris</a>' Grand Palais Éphémère on Tuesday.</p><p>Kicking off Chanel's debut at <keyword id="13037596" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="paris-couture-week" source="Orion">Paris Couture Week</keyword> 2022, Charlotte Casiraghi – granddaughter of Princess Grace Kelly of <keyword id="12019981" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="monaco" source="Orion">Monaco</keyword> and Chanel's brand ambassador since 2020 – rode her 8-year-old Spanish bay horse Kuskus down the runway, <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/chanel-spring-2022-couture-charlotte-casiraghi-equestrian-princess">Vogue reported</a>.</p><p>According to Chanel's website, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chanel.com%2Fgb%2Fhaute-couture%2Fspring-summer-2022%2F"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chanel.com%2Fgb%2Fhaute-couture%2Fspring-summer-2022%2F">Casiraghi is a "distinguished horsewoman."</a> The equestrian and model trotted down the runway wearing a collarless jacket paired with flared trousers in lapis-blue tweed, according to a caption of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZMGdalK0Wd/">a clip shared by Chanel on Instagram</a>.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZMGdalK0Wd" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by CHANEL (@chanelofficial)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>Her outfit was part of the brand's Spring/Summer 2022 collection <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/01/charlotte-casiraghi-equestrian-skills-on-the-chanel-runway">designed by Virginie Viard,</a> who took over as <a href="https://www.insider.com/who-is-virginie-viard-karl-lagerfeld-chanel-2019-2">Chanel's creative director</a> when <a href="https://www.insider.com/karl-lagerfeld-dead-french-media-report-2019-2">Karl Lagerfeld died in 2019</a>, Vanity Fair reported.</p><p>Chanel's decision to include a horse in the fashion show has faced backlash from some, including the international animal-rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Representatives for Chanel did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, and representatives for Casiraghi declined to comment.</p><p>"Horses are intelligent, complex, and easily frightened individuals, not fashion accessories to ride down a catwalk amid flashing lights and booming music," PETA's UK Director Elisa Allen told Insider in a statement.</p><p>"They are easily spooked, meaning that this absurd and thoughtless gimmick could have ended in disaster," she added.</p><div type="image" title="Charlotte Casiraghi rides a horse on the runway during the Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022 show as part of Paris Fashion Week at Le Grand Palais Ephemere on January 25, 2022 in Paris, France." height="4919" width="3280" msid="89140871" hostid="261"></div><p>Allen called for Chanel to "take inspiration" from other designers such as Stella McCartney, "who was lauded internationally when her models wore fabulous animal costumes down the catwalk," and said "they should follow her lead in leaving animals' skins out of their collections, too."</p><p>McCartney, whose brand hasn't used animal-based products since it launched in 2001, made headlines at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/mar/02/stella-mccartney-paris-fashion-week-goes-wild-animal-friendly-message">Paris Fashion Week in 2020</a> when people sporting animal costumes walked alongside models wearing her collection, The Guardian reported. </p><p>PETA's criticism of Chanel was shared by some on social media.</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/diet_prada/">Diet Prada</a>, an Instagram account with 3 million followers that posts about wrongdoings in the fashion world, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZJ6oKiDtXr/">reshared Chanel's clip of the show's opening</a> on Tuesday, with the caption: "Who thought that horse was about to charge into the audience omg."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZJ6oKiDtXr" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Diet Prada ™ (@diet_prada)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>In the comments, some questioned why the horse was there.</p><p>One referenced backlash the brand previously faced after a viral <a href="https://www.insider.com/chanel-responds-advent-calendar-controversy-2021-12">TikTok criticized its $825 advent calendar</a>: "Chanel is pulling all the strings to make a comeback from the advent calendar, including exploiting animals for clickbait."</p><p>"Animals are not for us to use for fun, sport or entertainment," another user wrote. </p><h2>Chanel's use of a live animal in a fashion show comes after Gucci received backlash for featuring real tigers in a campaign</h2><p>Gucci shared the first image from its campaign for its <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/gucci-tiger-collection-animal-rights-b1993870.html">new collection GucciTiger</a>, which celebrates the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYUNVaioHfu/">Chinese "Year of the Tiger,"</a> on its Instagram account on January 4, as The Independent reported.</p><p>"Nature, wildlife and its denizens are particularly important to Gucci, which in February 2020 joined The Lion's Share Fund, a unique initiative raising much-needed funds to protect endangered species and their natural habitats," the caption read. It added that American Humane, a third-party animal welfare organization, monitored animals on set and verified that none were harmed. According to the caption, the tigers were photographed and filmed in a separate environment. </p><p>The campaign was criticized by international nonprofit animal-rights organization <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WorldAnimalProtectionNZ/posts/10158927539218772">World Animal Protection</a> in a January 12 Facebook post, which said the campaign was "portraying tigers as pets and luxury items when they are wild animals that belong in the wild."</p><p>"Whether bred in captivity or captured from the wild, the stress these tigers undergo when forced to pose for photos is immense," it added. "By depicting tigers as mere photo props, Gucci's fashion campaign encourages consumers to treat them in the same harmful way."</p><p>Representatives for Gucci did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p>

Chanel's fashion show with Grace Kelly's granddaughter riding a horse down the runway could have 'ended in disaster,' PETA says

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="35866" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Taylor-Swift">Taylor Swift</keyword> dropped her surprise ninth studio album "<keyword id="10411314" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="evermore">Evermore</keyword>" on Friday. </li><li>On the cover and in a promo video for the album, Swift sported Stella McCartney clothing designed specifically for "Evermore," including a plaid coat that quickly caught fans' eyes.</li><li>The $2,875 Stella McCartney coat sold out online within hours of the album's release.</li><li>Other pieces Swift wore in a promotional video for the album and in the "Willow" <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> video have also sold out. </li></ul><p>Taylor Swift's ninth studio album "Evermore" dropped on Friday. </p><p>Swift announced the 15-track album, which she calls "Folklore's" sister album, on Instagram alongside a photo of the album cover.</p><p>While many of her fans were simply elated about the new music, others were quick to notice what Swift was wearing in the photos she posted. </p><h2>Swift wore a $2,875 Stella McCartney coat on the 'Evermore' cover</h2><p>Mirroring the "Folklore" cover, Swift posed in a wooded area for the "Evermore" cover while wearing a plaid coat.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/stella-mccartney-check-print-single-breasted-coat-item-15981061.aspx?fsb=1&amp;size=18&amp;storeid=9306&amp;clickref=1100lcZKwuzE&amp;utm_source=shopstylecollective123&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=PHUS&amp;utm_term=USNetwork&amp;pid=performancehorizon_int&amp;c=shopstylecollective123&amp;clickid=1100lcZKwuzE⁡siteid=1100l16995⁡sub_siteid=1011l270⁡cost_model=CPA⁡channel=affiliate&amp;is_retargeting=truet_model=CPA&amp;af_channel=affiliate&amp;is_retargeting=true">brown-and-orange wool coat</a> was designed by Stella McCartney, who Swift has worked with on multiple occasions in recent years.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CInkR4Ajyi1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>In 2019, Swift released a <a href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-lover-album-announcement-hijacked-lindsay-lohan-comments-instagram-2019-6">collaboration with the brand</a> to coincide with her seventh album, "Lover," and she's often spotted wearing Stella McCartney pieces.</p><p>In September, <a href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-acm-awards-outfit-photos-2020-9">McCartney designed her entire ensemble</a> for the Academy of Country Music Awards, and she sported multiple Stella McCartney looks in her <a href="https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-entertainers-of-the-year-2020/">December spread for Entertainment Weekly</a>.</p><p>Now, the Grammy-winning singer is continuing to show love for the brand in a low-key way as "Evermore" rolls out, with Swift wearing multiple McCartney pieces on the album cover and in promotional content for the album, as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIp3IhGpavN/">the brand shared on Instagram</a>.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIp3IhGpavN" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Stella McCartney (@stellamccartney)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>Swift's "Evermore" looks were designed specifically for the album cover. The pieces were sustainably designed from Stella McCartney's 23 Old Bond Street Limited Edition Collection, according to the Instagram post.</p><p>"Stella is so creative. I told her I had a secret project and she designed clothes that were <em>exactly</em> what I imagined," Swift said on the Instagram account for Stella McCartney. "I drove to her office, picked them up, and took them into the woods!!" </p><h2>Many of Swift's 'Evermore' looks have already sold out</h2><p>Swift's "Evermore" looks are already becoming massively popular, with some selling out just a day after the album was announced - the plaid coat being one of them.</p><p>The plaid coat costs $2,875, but that didn't stop fans from flocking to purchase it.</p><div type="image" title="taylor swift evermore coat" height="2676" width="2000" msid="79685542" hostid="261"></div><p>The striking garment was already sold out by Friday morning.</p><p>Swift also wore two other Stella McCartney jackets in a promotional video for "Evermore," including a denim jacket lined with olive shearling rather than fur. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIoh83vpB6O" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Stella McCartney (@stellamccartney)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>The $1,323 jacket is <a href="https://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/stella-mccartney-olive-shearling-lined-denim-jacket-item-15355112.aspx">sold on FarFetch</a>, but it had low stock at the time of writing. In two sizes, there was only one jacket left for purchase. </p><div type="image" title="taylor swifte" height="2673" width="2000" msid="79685545" hostid="261"></div><p>Swift also sported black Dolce &amp; Gabbana boots with gold embellishments in a promo video for "Evermore," according to the Instagram account <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIoFBidHX9y/">Taylor Swift Styled</a>.</p><p>The 2017 boots cost $1,495, and they were <a href="https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.net-a-porter.com%2Fen-us%2Fshop%2Fproduct%2Fdolce-and-gabbana%2Fembellished-glossed-leather-ankle-boots%2F915671&amp;pid=uid2569-31322587-50&amp;utm_content=textlink%3Ashopstyle.it%2Fl%3AbotDr%3AbotDr">sold out on Net-A-Porter</a> at the time of writing.</p><div type="image" title="taylor swift evermore boots" height="2039" width="1950" msid="79685549" hostid="261"></div><p>The same can be said for the $19.95 <a href="https://www.freepeople.com/shop/headliner-metallic-stripe-tights/?cm_mmc=rakuten-_-affiliates-_-ShopStyle%20%20Collective-_-1&amp;color=070&amp;ranEAID=%2a2nGiS3mv0Y&amp;ranMID=43177&amp;ranSiteID=.2nGiS3mv0Y-G7UaPYOLgI6UQpG5Y9ZEmA&amp;size=One%20Size&amp;utm_campaign=ShopStyle%20%20Collective&amp;utm_content=1&amp;utm_medium=affiliates&amp;utm_source=rakuten&amp;utm_term=717323&amp;type=REGULAR&amp;quantity=1;utm_term=717323&amp;type=REGULAR&amp;quantity=1">Free People tights</a> she wore with the boots, as they're only available in gold instead of the black version Swift wore. </p><h2>Fans have also been trying to find Swift's outfits from the 'Willow' music video</h2><p>Swift released the music video for "Willow," which is her first single off of "Evermore," at the same time as the album. </p><p>She rocks multiple outfits in the fantastical video, though one look in particular caught fans' eyes. </p><p>Swift wore a whimsical cream dress early on in the video, and she also posted a photo of herself in the dress on Instagram ahead of the video's release. </p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style="margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CInlFIMDIQQ" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></p></div></blockquote><p>The $2,650 organza and lace dress was designed by Zimmermann, and <a href="https://www.zimmermannwear.com/us/charm-star-slip-dress-cream.html">all but one size of the dress was sold out</a> the day the video dropped.</p><p>The dress is also <a href="https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-us/shop/product/zimmermann/charm-star-ruffled-silk-organza-and-guipure-lace-maxi-dress/1276074?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-*2nGiS3mv0Y-_-Custom-_-LinkBuilder&amp;ranMID=24449&amp;ranEAID=*2nGiS3mv0Y&amp;ranSiteID=.2nGiS3mv0Y-j7db5SjLwwMm2WuUNN5i3A&amp;siteID=.2nGiS3mv0Y-j7db5SjLwwMm2WuUNN5i3AjLwwMm2WuUNN5i3A">sold on Net-A-Porter</a>, but it likewise had low stock at the time of writing. </p><h2>There are less expensive alternatives to Swift's iconic 'Evermore' outfits</h2><p>It's going to be difficult to find many of Swift's "Evermore" outfits for some time since the looks are selling out so fast. Luckily, there are plenty of lookalike options that won't break the bank.</p><p>For instance, this windowpane <a href="https://www.madewell.com/windowpane-elmcourt-coat-in-insuluxe-fabric-99106002054.html?source=googlePLA&amp;noPopUp=true&amp;srcCode=Paid_Search|Shopping_Brand|Google|MWGGBS00002_99106002054_8144285706_83172712454_467819981982_c_pla_with_promotion_online__9073497&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAzsz-BRCCARIsANotFgNxrq8lqJj_BZz--kDVpw28XZmOchnBBSyKzQ_NFuPuqKSk9kQc-OUaAsSdEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.dsALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">Madewell coat</a> has the same vibe as the plaid Stella McCartney piece Swift wears.</p><div type="image" title="taylor swift madewell jacket" height="2570" width="2000" msid="79685550" hostid="261"></div><p>The coat costs $288 at the time of writing.</p><p>Free People's <a href="https://www.freepeople.com/shop/perry-hooded-denim-jacket/?color=092&amp;countryCode=US&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAzsz-BRCCARIsANotFgMmIn61SuMsTkgWGIv6O8x7Lpn9yrUxrehbgDRRv2WY3dOLz_MIz_saAqHdEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;inventoryCountry=US&amp;size=S&amp;type=REGULAR&amp;quantity=1;type=REGULAR&amp;quantity=1">Perry Hooded Denim Jacket</a> has a similar vibe to the denim jacket Swift wore in the promo video for "Evermore."</p><div type="image" title="taylor swfit" height="2256" width="1500" msid="79685552" hostid="261"></div><p>It costs $148 compared to the $1,323 piece Swift wore.</p><p>And although they don't have gold coin buttons, Karl Lagerfeld's $189 lace-up boots with pearl detailing are a great substitute for Swift's Dolce &amp; Gabbana shoes. </p><div type="image" title="karl lagerfeld evermore boots lookalike" height="2000" width="2000" msid="79685553" hostid="261"></div><p>You can see all of Swift's "Evermore" looks on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/">Instagram</a>, and you can see more of Stella McCartney's winter looks <a href="https://www.stellamccartney.com/us/online/stella-mccartney/women/winter-musthaves?utm_campaign=SMC_InstagramStories_Winter20TaylorSwift&amp;utm_medium=Social_Organic&amp;utm_source=instagram#%7B%22ytosQuery%22%3A%22true%22%2C%22department%22%3A%22winter_musthaves%22%2C%22gender%22%3A%22D%22%2C%22season%22%3A%22A%2CP%2CE%22%2C%22yurirulename%22%3A%22searchwithdepartment%22%2C%22page%22%3A%222%22%2C%22productsPerPage%22%3A%2240%22%2C%22suggestion%22%3A%22false%22%2C%22totalPages%22%3A2%2C%22rsiUsed%22%3A%22false%22%2C%22totalItems%22%3A%2270%22%2C%22partialLoadedItems%22%3A%2240%22%2C%22itemsToLoadOnNextPage%22%3A%2230%22%7D30%22%7D">here</a>.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-evermore-announcement-fan-reactions-memes-theories-2020-12">Taylor Swift's fans are flooding Twitter with memes and theories after the singer announced her 9th album, 'Evermore,' is coming out tonight</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/evermore-taylor-swift-album-tweets-memes-fan-reactions-2020-12">Taylor Swift's new album 'Evermore' is out - here are all the best memes and tweets from fans</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-boyfriend-joe-alwyn-cowrote-songs-evermore-reactions-2020-12">Taylor Swift's boyfriend Joe Alwyn helped write 3 songs on her new album, and fans are joking about their collaboration process</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-joe-alwyn-relationship-details-timeline">Taylor Swift confirmed that Joe Alwyn cowrote 3 of her 'Evermore' songs. Here's a timeline of their famously private relationship.</a></li></ul>

Taylor Swift's $2,875 plaid coat from her 'Evermore' cover sold out within hours - and it's not the only pricey item fans are snapping up

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56193d09dd089543648b4583-1184-592/rtr4gg40.jpg" alt="Taylor Swift" data-mce-source="Luke MacGregor / Reuters"><p class="source"><span>Luke MacGregor / Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Taylor Swift.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Ever&#xa0;had any of these songs stuck in your head?<p style="padding-left: 30px;">  Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">  Ariana Grande, "Problem"</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">  Britney Spears, "... Baby One More Time"&#xa0;</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">  Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"&#xa0;</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">  The Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"</p><p>You can credit the Swedish&#xa0;songwriter/producer Max Martin.</p><p>Since the late 1990s, the pop music virtuoso written or co-written a staggering 21 Billboard Hot 100 number 1 hits, <a href="http://www.stereogum.com/1788251/30-essential-max-martin-songs/franchises/ultimate-playlist/">behind only Paul McCartney and John Lennon on the all-time list.</a></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56193d09dd089543648b4584-1801-1350/gettyimages-463016186.jpg" alt="max martin" data-mce-source="Kevork Djansezian / Getty"><p class="source"><span>Kevork Djansezian / Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Max Martin accepting a Grammy this year.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><a href="http://www.stereogum.com/1788251/30-essential-max-martin-songs/franchises/ultimate-playlist/">Martin has cracked</a> the Top 10 list with Katy Perry 10 times, with Swift six times, with Spears six times, with Pink five times, and with the Backstreet Boys five times. When Swift wanted to cross over from country to pop, she partnered with Martin, and the result was "Red," an album with "I Knew You Were Trouble," "22," and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," which finally delivered Swift her first number one hit.&#xa0;<p>Martin also has many proteges<span> - like Shellback (Maroon 5's "Moves like Jagger"), Dr. Luke (Katy Perry's&#xa0;"California Gurls"), and Savan Kotecha&#xa0;(The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face") -&#xa0;</span>who will continue to make epic melodic pop after he's retired, which the 44 year old shows no signs of doing any time soon.</p><p>Simply put, Martin has engineered the signature sound of contemporary American pop music.&#xa0;</p><p>New York writer John Seabrook <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/blank-space-what-kind-of-genius-is-max-martin">makes a convincing argument</a> that it started back in the late 1990s, when Martin started collaborating with a then-unknown boyband called the Backstreet Boys, and then another unknown named Britney Spears.</p><p>According to Seabrook, author of the new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Song-Machine-Inside-Hit-Factory/dp/0393241920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1444406896&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=seabrook+pop+factory">"The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory,"</a>&#xa0;the Max Martin sound "combines ABBA's pop chords and textures ... eighties arena rock's big choruses, and early-nineties American R. &amp; B. grooves."</p><p><div><iframe width="800" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WA4iX5D9Z64" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></p><p class="embed-spacer">Martin gets his love of music from Sweden's world-class&#xa0;public education system.&#xa0;</p><p>Martin (given name&#xa0;Karl Martin Sandberg) got his start&#xa0;in music with&#xa0;state-sponsored music education programs, beginning&#xa0;with the recorder and then the French horn, drums, and keyboard, while also playing in the school orchestra.&#xa0;</p><p>Today, some 30% of students attend these&#xa0;after school programs.&#xa0;</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56193d09dd089543648b4585-4070-2035/2964701011_8bd1d3db26_o.jpg" alt="stockholm" data-mce-source="Hector Melo A / Flickr"><p class="source"><span>Hector Melo A / Flickr</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Oddly enough, the music public education movement in Sweden came out of a backlash to American music in the 1940s. <a href="http://www.psmag.com/books-and-culture/swedish-pop-mafia-music-world-influence-73966">Church leaders and conservative politicians</a>&#xa0;wanted to create a robust music program in the public education system&#xa0;so that the Swedish youth could create their own tunes instead of being infected by the "scandalous"&#xa0;jams starting to come out of the United States.&#xa0;<p>"Because their purpose was to inoculate the masses against the corrosive effects of popular entertainment - and not to train a select group of virtuosos - the schools were widespread and accessible to children of all talent levels," Moser writes, while simultaneously increasing "the odds that<span>&#xa0;Swedes would discover their talents."&#xa0;</span></p><p>Decades later, Sweden's the country that writes the pop that America (and Asia, <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2012/10/09/a-swede-makes-k-pop-waves/">by route of South Korea</a>) listens to.&#xa0;</p><p>Take it from the man who became Max Martin.</p><p>"I would not be standing in this place today if it weren't for the public music school," <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/blank-space-what-kind-of-genius-is-max-martin">Martin said in an interview</a><span>.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swifts-china-controvery-2015-8">Taylor Swift's 1989 merch may cause some controversy in China</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="kzYzR0djoWzLSD9CVibJsAKXHfOKP02L" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'kzYzR0djoWzLSD9CVibJsAKXHfOKP02L',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "karl mccartney" and got 13 results

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