Immigration minister Robert Jenrick has reacted to his speeding penalty in a statement, insisting he would not "knowingly exceed the speed limit". Responding to the sentence, passed in a closed court without Jenrick's requirement to attend, he said: “I accept the court’s decision.
“I was driving below the national speed limit on an empty motorway, with no road works in sight. I now understand that a variable speed limit had been applied, which I didn’t see.
“I wouldn’t knowingly exceed the speed limit.”
Read more: MP Robert Jenrick banned from driving after he was caught speeding
The Conservative MP for Newark was banned from driving for six months in his absence after travelling at almost 30mph over a temporary speed limit on the M1 last year.
He was also slapped with a fine of £1,107 at a court hearing on Tuesday (April 4) after previously admitting to travelling at 68mph in a temporary 40mph zone between junctions 18 and 17 on the southbound M1 last August, the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre said.
The case was dealt with through a Single Justice Procedure at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, which allows a magistrate to rule on criminal cases seen as minor in a closed court, meaning the public and press cannot attend.
They also allow defendants to plead guilty or not guilty in writing which meant that Mr Jenrick, 41, did not have to attend court in person.
As well as the fine, he will be required to pay £442 in the form of a victim surcharge as well as £90 costs.
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