UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has accepted a fine from police for failing to wear a seatbelt while filming a social media clip in the back of a moving car.
Sunak was issued with a “fixed penalty notice” by Lancashire Constabulary after he was spotted not wearing his seatbelt in an Instagram video he filmed to promote levelling-up funding during a visit to Lancashire on Thursday.
In a statement released on Friday, the force said: “You will be aware that a video has been circulating on social media showing an individual failing to wear a seatbelt while a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire.
“After looking into this matter, we have today issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised. He will of course comply with the fixed penalty.”
This is Sunak’s second police fine, having paid a fixed penalty notice as chancellor during the “partygate” scandal for attending a lockdown-busting gathering to mark then-prime minister Boris Johnson’s 56th birthday.
A fixed penalty notice is a sanction for breaking the law, which allows the recipient to pay a set amount of money to avoid going to court.
Earlier, a Number 10 spokesman said “of course” the prime minister does not believe anyone is above the law, adding that he “believes it is important for people to wear their seatbelt.”
‘Laughing Stock’
The main opposition Labour Party said the incident had turned the prime minister into a “laughing stock.”“Hapless Rishi Sunak’s levelling-up photo op has blown up in his face and turned him into a laughing stock,” said a party spokesperson, adding: “Just when you thought this Tory government couldn’t get any more ridiculous, they manage it.”
The Liberal Democrats said Sunak had “shown the same disregard for the rules as Boris Johnson,” who resigned as prime minister last year after a series of scandals including attending parties in Downing Street in violation of COVID-19 lockdown rules.
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Rishi Sunak has shown the same disregard for the rules as Boris Johnson, and now becomes the second prime minister to be fined by the police.
“From partygate to seatbelt gate, these Conservative politicians are just taking the British people for fools.
‘Inadvertent Mistake’
Talking to Times Radio on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab defended Sunak, saying the prime minister made an “inadvertent mistake.”Raab said: “He’s made clear that this was a mistake. He’s apologised for it. And he’s paying the fine. He’s a human being … like many people doing busy jobs, he’s made a mistake. I think, actually, people understand that people do make mistakes inadvertently, not deliberately, and he’s very honest about it when he does.
“And actually, that’s part of the integrity, the transparency, the accountability, and just saying, ‘look, you know, if I make a mistake, put my hands up, but we crack on with the process of delivering for the country.’”
He added: “Given the circumstances, I don’t think it’s something which would result in his resignation.”
But Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner accused Sunak of displaying a “lack of judgment,” having received his second police fine in less than a year.
She told BBC Breakfast: “The fact that he’s had two fixed penalty notices in nine months, I think, shows a lack of judgment on his behalf, especially as chancellor and then as the prime minister. And I think he should use this opportunity to highlight that safety does matter in vehicles.”
Rayner was also asked about video footage appearing to show her party leader Sir Keir Starmer in a moving vehicle without a seatbelt on, which was shared on the Guido Fawkes Twitter account on Friday evening.
She responded by saying: “I don’t know the circumstances. It was, you know, nearly 30 years ago, I think, from what I understand. I’ve not seen the reports of it but all I would say is that most of the general public are aware of the fact that you should wear seatbelts.
“I think all this does is highlight that no matter what vehicle you’re in, whether you’re in the back of a vehicle, whether you’re in the front of the vehicle, whether you’re driving for five minutes down the road or not, you should always wear a seatbelt because it will protect your life.”
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