British PM Rishi Sunak fined by police for not wearing seat belt

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London: British police have fined Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for failing to wear a seat belt while he filmed a social media clip in the back seat of a moving car, a potentially embarrassing blow as he tries to revive his party’s fortunes.

Sunak, who had earlier apologised for a “brief error of judgement”, had uploaded the video to Instagram during a trip to north-west England. It was widely shared by other users who noticed that he had not buckled up.

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits Northern School of Art, in Hartlepool, England, on Thursday.Credit:AP

Local police had said later that day they would investigate, and confirmed late on Friday (Saturday AEDT) that an offence had taken place.

It is the second penalty Sunak has received from police he was last year found to have broken COVID-19 lockdown rules, along with then-prime minister Boris Johnson.

Sunak becomes the second prime minister after Johnson to have broken the law in such a manner.

The fine is an additional distraction for Sunak, whose Conservative Party trails far behind the opposition Labour Party in the opinion polls, ahead of an election due by January 2025 at the latest.

“The prime minister fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised. He will, of course, comply with the fixed penalty,” a spokesman from Sunak’s Downing Street office said in a statement.

Police in the northern English county of Lancashire said in a statement that a 42-year-old man from London had been served a penalty notice.

Sunak’s video comprised an update on the government’s “levelling up” plans to reduce regional funding disparities.

In Britain, passengers caught not wearing a seat belt can be fined £100, or £500 if the case goes to court, unless there is an exemption.

“Thank you Lancashire Police for all you do in road safety campaigning all year round. Also, reminding us no one is above the law,” Cat Smith, a Labour MP, said on Twitter.

Reuters

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