Police fine PM for seat belt ‘error’

The prime minister has been issued with a fixed penalty notice by police for failing to wear a seat belt while filming a social media clip in the back of a moving car.

Rishi Sunak previously apologised for the “brief error of judgment” as he carried out a series of visits in the north of England on Thursday.

Mr Sunak was spotted not wearing his seat belt in an Instagram video he filmed to promote levelling-up funding during a visit to Lancashire.

Lancashire Police said: “You will be aware that a video has been circulating on social media showing an individual failing to wear a seat belt while a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire.

“After looking into this matter, we have issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”

It is Mr Sunak’s second fine, having paid a fixed-penalty notice during the “partygate” scandal while chancellor.

Downing Street has so far declined to comment on the latest development.

Earlier, No 10 said Mr Sunak “fully accepts this was a mistake and apologises”.

A No 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 seat belt”.

“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,” the spokesman added.

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.

Meanwhile, Tory party chairman Nadhim Zahawi faces fresh questions over his tax affairs after he was accused of paying a penalty as part of a multi-millionpound settlement with HMRC.

The former chancellor, who attends Mr Sunak’s Cabinet, has been under pressure since it was reported that he paid a sevenfigure sum to end a dispute.

Now, The Guardian has reported that he paid a 30% penalty, taking the estimated total to more than £4.8 million.

Both Mr Zahawi’s team and the Conservative Party were contacted about the latest allegation. Neither have responded to rebut the report.

Labour has called on the prime minister to sack Mr Zahawi, calling his position “untenable”.

FIXED PENALTY: Rishi Sunak admitted a ‘brief error of judgment’.