UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fined for not wearing a seatbelt in moving car

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been issued with a fixed penalty notice by police for not wearing a seatbelt while filming a social media clip in the back of a moving car.

Rishi Sunak had apologised for the 'brief error of judgment' while he carried out a number of visits in Lancashire on Thursday (19 January).

Mr Sunak was spotted not wearing his seatbelt in an Instagram video he filmed to promote levelling-up funding during a visit to the North of England.

Sharing the news of Rishi's fine today (Friday, 20 January), 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 issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”

Passengers caught not wearing a seatbelt when one is made available, unless they have a valid exemption, can be handed an on-the-spot £100 fine, which could increase to £500 if it goes to court.

The clip in question was filmed in Lancashire, with Sunak doing a trip of the North of England promoting the 'Levelling Up' programme - a 'plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it'.

Twitter/Rishi Sunak

After the video went viral, the PM issued an apology through a spokesperson after the incident, which read: "The Prime Minister believes everyone should wear a seatbelt.

"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."

Funnily enough, the government has actually considered introducing tougher laws for motorists who do not wear their seatbelts in a moving vehicle.

The new measure would see drivers get penalty points, with official statistics showing 30 percent of people killed in vehicles were not wearing a seatbelt.

As per the BBC, Labour said the video added to 'endless painful viewing', following the Prime Minister struggling to make a contactless payment with his card last year.

A Labour spokeswoman said: "Rishi Sunak doesn't know how to manage a seat belt, his debit card, a train service, the economy, this country.

"This list is growing every day, and it's making for endless painful viewing."

Rishi has not yet commented on his fine.