RISHI Sunak was forced to make a grovelling apology last night – after he was filmed in his car without a seatbelt.
The PM posted a video on his personal account speaking en route to his levelling up announcement in Morecambe yesterday.
The PM has said sorry after he was caught on camera in a car not wearing a seat belt
He apologised for the error of judgement, Downing Street said
Last night Downing Street admitted he made a “brief error of judgement” by removing the safety device for a video for his social media accounts to promote the new Levelling Up funds.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Sunak “fully accepts this was a mistake and apologises”.
He added: “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.”
Brits face a fine of up to £500 for not wearing a seat belt in a car when one is available.
It came as he faced criticism for flying up to Blackpool in a taxpayer funded jet rather than getting the train.
A Labour spokesperson hit out: “Rishi Sunak doesn’t know how to manage a seatbelt, his debit card, a train service, the economy, this country.”
The AA warned of the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt.
A spokesman said: “No matter who you are, it is important to wear your seatbelt when in the car.”
Earlier, the PM refused to rule out MORE brutal tax hikes this year as the cost of living crisis continues wreaking havoc on household finances.
Speaking this afternoon at a Q&A with the public in Morcambe, the PM insisted he’s still at Tory at heart and it’s his “wish” to slash taxes.
But he added the “worst thing” he can do is “promise a bunch of things that sound great” only to fail at delivering them.
“We had a massive pandemic that shut the country down,” Mr Sunak said.
“And then we’ve got this war going on, which has had an enormous impact on inflation.
“That means that public finances are not where they need to be.”
Brits will find out how much taxes, the price of beer, cigarettes and fuel are changing on March 15, when Jeremy Hunt unveils his Spring Budget.
As energy prices soar and inflation bites, the Chancellor will present the unvarnished state of the nation’s precarious finances.
At today’s “PM Connect” event – the first of a series of public Q&A sessions – Mr Sunak said he’s keeping tight lipped about the Budget.
But he also hinted that income tax cuts are very unlikely.
He gave a Q&A with the public in a bid to woo them over after handing out cash bids
The PM visited Hartlepool in a bid to hail the new Levelling Up fund announcements
