Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been fined by Lancashire Constabulary after failing to wear a seatbelt while filming a social media clip in the back of a moving car.
The clip promoting his levelling-up funding was posted on Instagram on Thursday as Sunak visited Lancashire.
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The prime minister “will of course comply with the fixed penalty,” a No10 spokesperson said on Friday.
Fixed penalty notices for seatbelt offences are usually £100, but they can rise to £500 if taken to court.
A Downing Street spokesman earlier said Sunak “fully accepts that this was a mistake and apologises.”
“The prime minister believes everyone should wear a seatbelt,” the spokesman said.
“It was an error of judgment, he removed it for a short period of time to film a clip, which you’ve seen, but he accepts that was a mistake.”
Lancashire police confirmed on Thursday they were “looking into” the matter.
It is Sunak’s second 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.
There are a few exemptions for failing to wear a belt, including when a car is being used for police, fire and rescue services and for certified medical issues.
Downing Street said it did not believe there is an exception for travelling in a ministerial car.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said:
“Rishi Sunak is a total liability.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said:
“Rishi Sunak has shown the same disregard for the rules as Boris Johnson, and now becomes the second ever Prime Minister to be fined by the police.
“From partygate to seatbelt gate, these Conservative politicians are just taking the British people for fools.
“Whilst they continue to behave as though it’s one rule for them and another for everyone else, this fine is a reminder that the Conservatives eventually get their comeuppance.”
