LONDON: According to Downing Street, British police will be “looking into” a video in which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is shown driving without a seatbelt, a “mistake of judgment” for which he has expressed regret.
In a video released on Thursday for Sunak’s social media accounts, the seatbelt-free leader of the Conservative Party discusses his plans to spur economic growth while traveling to Lancashire in northern England.
The maximum fine for not using a seatbelt is 500 pounds ($619).
Authorities were “aware of the matter and we will be looking into it,” a Lancashire police official stated.
Sunak “completely accepts this was a mistake and apologizes,” according to a Downing Street spokesman.
The official continued, “The prime minister thinks everyone should use a seatbelt.
“It was a poor decision. He briefly removed it in order to record the tape you’ve seen, but he acknowledges that was a mistake.
Sunak’s travel habits had already become a topic of conversation in the UK, with his political adversaries criticizing his recent use of a plane to make numerous brief flights.
“Rishi Sunak’s pricey private aircraft habit is costing the environment and the public dear,” said Angela Rayner, deputy leader of Labour.
Sunak used “various modes of transport based on what’s… the best use of his time to enable him to get around the entire UK,” a spokeswoman claimed in defense of the choice.