Rishi Sunak's fine for no seat belt on Blackpool journey commemorated with 'blue plaque'

The slip by the Prime Minister in not wearing a seat belt as he spoke on video while being driven from Blackpool Airport to Morecambe last month is commemorated by a creative ‘blue plaque’ placed on a lamp post on the route at Squires Gate Lane in the resort.

In the style of the English Heritage tributes which mark birth places, residences and achievements through history, the plaque close to the junction with Common Edge Road says “Rishi Sunak 19-1-23 – Received a fixed penalty notice for being filmed passing this spot in a car whilst not wearing a seatbelt”.

Lancashire Police announced the day following the January 19 visit that it was fining the Prime Minister after he was spotted not wearing his seatbelt in the Instagram video, which was being filmed to promote the latest round of “levelling up” spending as he visited Lancashire.

Mr Sunak agreed to pay the fine and No 10 Downing Street issued an apology on his behalf.

The PM said afterwards: “Yes, I regret not wearing a seatbelt. It was a mistake and that is why I apologised straight away.”