Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been fined for not wearing a seatbelt in a moving car while filming a social media video. Lancashire Police said it had issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of a fixed penalty. No 10 said Mr. Sunak “fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologized”, adding that he would pay the fine. Passengers caught failing to wear a seat belt when one is available can be fined £100. This can increase to £500 if the case goes to court.
The prime minister was in Lancashire when the video was filmed, during a trip across the north of England. The video – to promote the government’s latest round of “leveling” spending – was posted on Mr. Sunak’s Instagram account. It is the second time Mr. Sunak has received a fixed penalty notice while in government. Last April, he was fined along with Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie for breaking Covid lockdown rules – by attending a birthday gathering for the then-prime minister in Downing Street in June 2020.
Disregard for the rules
Fixed penalty notices are a sanction for breaking the law, and mean a fine, which needs to be paid within 28 days, or contested. If someone chooses to contest the fine, the police will then review the case and decide whether to withdraw the fine or take the matter to court. Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said in a tweet that Mr Sunak was a “total liability”. A Labour Party spokesperson added: “Hapless Rishi Sunak’s levelling-up photo op has blown up in his face and turned him into a laughing stock.”
The Liberal Democrats said, in becoming the second ever serving prime minister to be fined by police, he had “shown the same disregard for the rules as Boris Johnson”. Deputy Lib Dem leader Daisy Cooper said: “From party gate 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.” But Conservative MP for Blackpool South Scott Benton defended Mr Sunak, saying “everybody makes mistakes”. Mr Benton said police should focus on “tackling serious crime in our communities”, adding: “Let’s keep this in proportion here. Every single year millions of Britons receive similar fixed penalty notices.” Passengers aged 14 and over are responsible for ensuring they wear a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted. Drivers are responsible for passengers under 14. Exemptions include having a doctor’s certificate for a medical reason, or being in a vehicle used for a police, fire or other rescue service.
