London: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday apologized for a “brief mistake” he made in removing his seatbelt to film a social media video while driving to a destination in north-west England. Sunak’s Downing Street spokesman said he had only briefly unbuckled his seatbelt and admits he made a mistake.
The PM’s spokesman said Sunak made an “error of judgement” by briefly removing it to film the social media clip during a visit to the north of England.
In the clip recorded for Instagram, Sunak addresses the camera without wearing protective equipment while the vehicle he is in continues to move, Politico reports.
Under British law, drivers and passengers can face fines of up to £500 for not wearing seat belts while driving, with some limited exemptions including for emergency service personnel.
When asked whether Sunak had any leeway while riding in the official car, the spokesperson told reporters, “It was a mistake and he has apologised.” – “Fully admits it was a mistake and apologises.”
“The prime minister believes everyone should wear seat belts,” the spokesperson said, Politico reported. That was a mistake.”
As Politico reports, the mistake was seized on by the opposition Labor Party, which sought to harass Sunak over a previous clip that showed her struggling to use a contactless debit card.
A Labor spokesman said, “Rishi Sunak doesn’t know how to manage seatbelts, his debit card, a train service, the economy, this country.” “This list is growing every day, and it is making for an endlessly painful scene.”