Taylor Swift’s Euro tour sparks backlash as Edinburgh’s homeless are forced out so fans can use hotels

The European leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has got off to a controversial start – with campaigners saying her concerts are forcing homeless people out of Edinburgh and fans demanding the singer ‘speak out’ on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The American singer has come under increasing pressure to break her silence on the Israel-Hamas war, with pro-Palestine concertgoers taking flags and placards to gigs in Madrid and Lisbon. Meanwhile Portugal shows last week descended into chaos as furious fans tore down a fence after waiting for hours in the blistering heat to enter the Estádio da Luz stadium.

Now, in what could be yet another PR headache for the star, charity bosses have raised fears that rough sleepers in the Scottish capital are being offered temporary accommodation up to 100 miles away to make way for fans flocking to the city. As Edinburgh prepares for the biggest series of concerts to come to Scotland in years, hotels have been booked out by fans of 34-year-old – with around 215,000 set to watch Swift perform at Murrayfield stadium on three dates next month.

Amid the pressure, Shelter Scotland says a number of the people it supports have been sent by taxi to Aberdeen and Glasgow. One was offered a place in Newcastle upon Tyne.