Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been fined by police for failing to wear a seatbelt, after a video emerged on Instagram of the 42-year-old filmed from the back of a vehicle in transit.
The Tory leader has previously apologised for the 'brief error of judgement' he made while embarking on a series of visits across Lancashire, Thursday (January 19).
And the incident in question took place while he was speaking on levelling-up funding, on route to the North of England.
Read more: Police 'looking into' Rishi Sunak's seatbelt error as PM apologises for 'mistake'
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 today (Friday, January 20th) issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”
It's the second police fine that Mr Sunak has paid in less than a year. While working as Chancellor, he also received a fine for attending a birthday party held for Boris Johnson on June 19, 2020 - at the height of the global Coronavirus pandemic, while social distancing measures were in place.
Downing Street has so far declined to comment on the new revelation.
The PA News agency reports that earlier, No 10 said that Mr Sunak 'fully accepts' that the move was a mistake 'and apologises'. A spokesman, also confirmed that the PM does not believe that anyone is above the law, insisting that he 'believes it is important for people to wear their seatbelt'.
The spokesman added: “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."
There are a number of exemptions with regards to seatbelt use - including when a car is being used by emergency services and for certified medial issues. Downing Street said it did not believe that there is an exception standing for travelling in a ministerial vessel.
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