British Prime Minister Fined for Not Wearing Seatbelt in Moving Car
It is unlikely that a major Indian politician would be penalized, as it may be viewed as a matter of prestige. However, when a similar situation occurred with the British…
It is unlikely that a major Indian politician would be penalized, as it may be viewed as a matter of prestige. However, when a similar situation occurred with the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, he was not only fined but also had to apologize.
British police fined Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for not wearing a seat belt while he was in the back seat of a moving car, filming a social media clip. This incident could be an awkward setback for Sunak as he attempts to bring back his party's success.
Rishi Sunak apologized for a "brief error of judgement" after uploading a video to Instagram during a trip to northwest England. The video which showed him not wearing a seatbelt was widely shared by other users.
Local police announced they would investigate the incident. They later confirmed that an offense had occurred. This is not the first time Sunak has been penalized by the police, as he also broke Covid-19 lockdown rules last year, along with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Sunak is now the second prime minister after Johnson to have broken the law in such a way. This fine is an additional obstacle for Sunak, as his Conservative Party is currently lagging behind the Labour Party in opinion polls, leading up to an election that must take place by 2025.
"The prime minister has acknowledged that this was an error and has offered his apologies. He is willing to accept the consequences and pay the fine,” a spokesperson from the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street stated.
In a statement, the Lancashire Police force announced that a 42-year-old individual from London had been issued with a penalty notice.
In Britain, a person can be fined up to 500 pounds ($620) for not wearing a seatbelt, except in certain circumstances, such as for emergency services, when in a taxi, or when a driver is reversing.
Cat Smith, a Labour lawmaker, expressed her gratitude for Lancashire Police on Twitter, commending them for their ongoing road safety campaigning and reminding everyone that "no one is above the law."
