British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received a traffic ticket this Friday (20), after he appeared without a seat belt, inside a car, in a video he posted on his Instagram account.
Proud to announce a contribution of millions of pounds to the financial recovery of counties in the north of England, the Conservative leader traveled to Lancashire and, from there, recorded a message on the back seat of his official vehicle. In the video, which was deleted from his account, he appeared smiling and praising his policy of reducing regional inequalities.
Moments after the publication on social networks, the serious British police reported that they were watching the video. He later said curtly that he would issue “a fine to a 42-year-old man from London”.
Sunak promptly apologized and said that he had taken off his belt just to turn to the side and be able to record the message more comfortably. The government spokesman called the case “a brief error of judgement”, reinforcing the argument that the prime minister removed the accessory only to film a short clip. “He fully accepts that it was a mistake and apologizes for it.”
He added that “the prime minister believes everyone should wear seatbelts” and that Sunak in no way feels above the law.
In the United Kingdom, a passenger who does not wear a seatbelt – when one is available – is fined £100 (R$ 646) if caught by the authorities. The amount can increase to 500 pounds (R$ 3,230) if the case goes to court.
The opposition Labor Party, of course, reveled in the story, recalling a video in which the politician apparently struggled to understand how to make a card payment. “Rishi Sunak doesn’t know how to manage a seat belt, his debit card, a train service, the economy, this country,” a spokeswoman said. “It’s a painful, never-ending display.”
Another MP, Cat Smith, thanked Lancashire Police for keeping road safety “and remembering that no one is above the law”.
It is the second time that Sunak has been punished as part of the government. In April 2022, when he held the post of finance minister, he was fined, alongside then-premier Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, for breaking the restriction rules to contain Covid.
The three had attended a birthday party for Boris in Downing Street, in June 2020. The episode, along with a series of other events, formed what became known as “partygate”, adding to other scandals of the management of the now former Prime Minister and precipitating his downfall.
It now remains to be seen what impact Sunak’s tour may have at a time when the Conservative Party is at risk. The UK has elections scheduled for January 2025.
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