Britney Spears loses court bid to suspend her father’s control over her estate

Popular singer Britney Spears has officially lost her bid to remove her father as conservator of her estate.

A UK court rejected the singer's case against her father, Jamie Spears who has been handling his daughter's legal conservator for 12 years, due to concerns about her mental health, reported by BBC.

Britney's lawyer said the pop star was "afraid" of him, and that she would not perform so long as he remained in the role.

Her father's lawyer argued that he always acted in the best interests of his daughter.

A judge said she would consider future appeals for his dismissal or outright removal.

In the meantime, at the request of Britney Spears, financial company Bessemer Trust has been appointed as a co-conservator.

During a hearing on Tuesday, her lawyer, Samuel Ingham, said she and her father have no "viable working relationship" and have not spoken in a "long while".

But Vivian Thoreen, Jamie Spears' lawyer, argued that the reason they hadn't spoken was because Ingham had advised Britney against it.

Thoreen also defended Jamie Spears' record as conservator. When he assumed the role, Britney was fighting tens of millions of dollars in lawsuits. But under his guidance, her business operation was now worth $60m (£45m), Thoreen said.

The legal battle is taking place against the backdrop of the "Free Britney" movement - a group of fans who believe Britney Spears is being kept prisoner by her father and others.