British police on Friday fined Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for failing to wear a seatbelt in a moving car while filming a social media video.
Lancashire Police said in a Twitter statement not directly naming Sunak: “We have today issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”
A fixed penalty means Rishi Sunak can pay a fine to avoid a court hearing.
Downing Street said in a statement that Sunak “fully accepts this was a mistake and has apologised”.
“He will, of course, comply with the fixed penalty,” it said.
Also Read: In Photos: 6 Facts about Indian-origin Rishi Sunak who is elected as UK`s PM
The BBC reported that the fine for not wearing a seat belt as a car passenger would be £100 ($124). If the case went to court, Sunak could pay £500.
In Thursday`s video, produced for distribution on Sunak`s social media channels, the beltless Conservative leader speaks from the back seat of a moving car about his policies for boosting growth during a trip to Lancashire in England`s north.
Sunak apologised for an “error of judgement” soon after the video came out on Thursday, according to Downing Street, and it has been removed from Instagram.
Sunak`s transportation habits were already a talking point in the United Kingdom.
His political rivals have taken aim at his use of a private jet to make multiple short flights in recent days.
This is not the first time Sunak has been slapped with a police fine.
He was fined while serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer for attending a Downing Street party in June 2020 that violated the government`s rules on social distancing.
Sunak`s transportation habits had already been a talking point in the United Kingdom, with his political rivals taking aim at his use of a jet to make multiple short flights in recent days.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “Rishi Sunak`s expensive private jet habit is costing the environment and the taxpayer dear.”
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