British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was fined on Friday for failing to buckle up while filming a video in the back seat of a car the previous day.
• Also read: UK: Police investigate video of Sunak without a seat belt
In this video, which was posted to his Instagram account but has since been removed, the Conservative Government leader enthusiastically discusses his territorial realignment policy while sitting in the back seat of a car without his seatbelt on as he relocates to Lancashire north of England.
Criticism in the social networks quickly increased and Rishi Sunak recognized “an error of judgement” on Thursday evening.
Lancashire Police announced the punishment in a tweet on Friday: “After video surfaced on social media showing a person not wearing their seat belt while seated as a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire, we have today a 42-year-old man from London”.
The Prime Minister “fully acknowledges that this was a mistake and has apologized. He will of course comply with the fine,” a Downing Street spokesman was quick to respond.
According to the BBC, the fine for not wearing a seat belt as a passenger in a car is £100 ($165) and can go up to £500 ($829) if the case goes to court.
This is not the first time Rishi Sunak has been fined. As Boris Johnson’s finance secretary, he was fined in the so-called “Partygate” scandal for attending a rally marking the Prime Minister’s birthday in breach of anti-COVID rules.