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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the Rishi seatbelt nonsense is just tedious?

228 replies

Cuppasoupmonster · 20/01/2023 22:39

Not a Tory voter, never have been.

But seriously all this over the fact he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt? Anyone would think he’d been exposed as a sex offender or a user of Class A drugs 🙄

OP posts:
Whiskyinajar · 21/01/2023 10:35

Totally agree OP and I am very anti Tory.

Move on folks, more important stuff to discuss.

caminar · 21/01/2023 10:36

Legoninjago1 · 21/01/2023 09:48

Agree OP. So bored with this finger pointing cheap shot tattle tale culture.

I don't think it's a case of "tattle tale" when your own team films you and publishes it?

AfraidToRun · 21/01/2023 10:41

I have always worn my seat belt. I continue to always wear my seat belt not because it is the law but because I am sensible...

cushioncovers · 21/01/2023 10:42

Yep I don't vote Tory but couldn't give a damn about him wearing a seatbelt.

Lonelycrab · 21/01/2023 10:57

Seems a fairly obvious plant from him and his team

Yes, I think it’s perfectly possible that it was intentional.

Firstly it distracts and diverts attention away from a few other things that the Tories would rather not have the spotlight on, Zahawi dodging his tax bill, and the Eu retained law bill which is potentially seismic in terms of damage to the country.

Notice there aren’t any threads about those two, yet this one is already pages long.

Secondly, it sets up yet more division, between those that think A: too right he gets fined, it’s the law and he should abide by it, and B: it’s elf and safety gone mad, it’s no big deal etc etc.
People then squabble about that, ignoring the bigger picture.

Sure, I could be wrong, but it does strike me it was a very obvious mistake.

Survey99 · 21/01/2023 11:00

A huge number of fatalities on the road are still attributed to seat belts not being worn. The problem isn't him not wearing a seat belt and breaking the law it is him apparently not being aware of why there is a seat belt law and/or as PM not knowing his actions will influence the behaviour of others.

It was a silly mistake, one that shouldnt have happened as someone should have noticed before they posted the video online. A stream of silly mistakes will chip away at anyones reputation and public confidence.

Hbh17 · 21/01/2023 11:02

Completely agree with OP. An utter waste of police time - have they nothing better to do?

Endlesssummer2022 · 21/01/2023 11:05

For me it’s not the seatbelt thing, it’s the fact that yet again he’s shown poor judgement. He’s like he’s on work experience or pretending to be PM in one of those Westfield dress up centres. He’s such a fucking lightweight. No political sense at all.

cakeorwine · 21/01/2023 11:05

Hbh17 · 21/01/2023 11:02

Completely agree with OP. An utter waste of police time - have they nothing better to do?

What would have happened if they didn't do anything?

A blatant breach of the law by a high profile person.

GolfEchoRomeoTangoIndia · 21/01/2023 11:06

For the sake of watching one video and sending out one letter, the traffic police have achieved publicity on the fact that this is a crime that would take millions in public safety adverts.

And they've bolstered up faith in the rule of law, that someone who's blatantly breaking a law with no reasonable excuse can be prosecuted no matter how important they are.

mumoffourminimes · 21/01/2023 11:10

Dappledapples · 20/01/2023 22:47

Disagree. Comes across yet again as though rules are just for the plebs.

Yep

cakeorwine · 21/01/2023 11:11

GolfEchoRomeoTangoIndia · 21/01/2023 11:06

For the sake of watching one video and sending out one letter, the traffic police have achieved publicity on the fact that this is a crime that would take millions in public safety adverts.

And they've bolstered up faith in the rule of law, that someone who's blatantly breaking a law with no reasonable excuse can be prosecuted no matter how important they are.

To quote Carolyn "What were you thinking?"

(Love the user name)

mumoffourminimes · 21/01/2023 11:13

He obviously hasn't been keeping up with the news on ambulance strikes and a&e waiting times. 🙄

cakeorwine · 21/01/2023 11:16

mumoffourminimes · 21/01/2023 11:13

He obviously hasn't been keeping up with the news on ambulance strikes and a&e waiting times. 🙄

That's a great question:

Prime Minister,

Given we have an issue with ambulance response times, over worked A&E departments,do you think it was wise to remove your seatbelt in a moving vehicle, film a video and then post it on social media?

Lovemydoggiesomuch · 21/01/2023 11:17

LoveBluey · 21/01/2023 00:03

I doubt very much he unbuckled just for a moment to film it, I think it's more likely he doesn't ever wear it when being driven around under protection. Would seem strange to think I'm about to be filmed, let's take off the seatbelt. More likely it just didn't even occur to him to put it on as he's not in the habit of doing so.

This is the first time he has been caught!

mumoffourminimes · 21/01/2023 11:39

He's so out of touch @cakeorwine

grumpycow1 · 21/01/2023 12:04

Pinkkite · 21/01/2023 08:20

I don’t think it’s the act of doing it that is outrageous (although puts anyone in the front at greater risk so very selfish), it’s the constant behaviour of this government who seem to think that they are above the law. It’s also the fact that as our leaders it belittles to laws and gives the message that the laws don’t need to be followed.

If our leaders don’t follow the rules, why should we? If we don’t follow the rules, which rules shall we break? why bother having laws at all?

Laws are there to keep us all safer. If the message from the top is they are not worth following it’s a dangerous precedent to set. so whilst it’s a small thing, the context makes it more serious.

I was too tired to reply, as I find this constant ‘roll over and accept it’ attitude like the OP tedious! This is perfectly put.

grumpycow1 · 21/01/2023 12:05

Lovemydoggiesomuch · 21/01/2023 11:17

This is the first time he has been caught!

Show quote history

Doesn’t care if they crash and he squashes his driver - they mean nothing to him 😢

KTheGrey · 21/01/2023 12:27

Nobody in government should be publicly breaking a law so obviously aligned with safety. If you can't trust a leader to set a good example in public, how can you trust them to have the public's best interests at heart when they legislate? Seat belts save lives. Buckle up or get out of the car.

PerkingFaintly · 21/01/2023 12:29

GolfEchoRomeoTangoIndia · 21/01/2023 11:06

For the sake of watching one video and sending out one letter, the traffic police have achieved publicity on the fact that this is a crime that would take millions in public safety adverts.

And they've bolstered up faith in the rule of law, that someone who's blatantly breaking a law with no reasonable excuse can be prosecuted no matter how important they are.

+1

Return2thebasic · 21/01/2023 12:37

Thesonglastslonger · 21/01/2023 09:40

My concern is not so much the seatbelt, it’s that, since this is obviously and clearly a criminal offence, wtf did the Prime Minister think he was doing filming it and putting it on the internet?

I thought Rishi was supposed to be the clever one?!

Man, three PMs in a row who are thick as a brick. And meanwhile the opposition are in pieces and all the LibDems and Greens can think about is how best to please extremist trans activists.

I guess democracy is not doing well in Britain ☹️

I have to agree with everything you said here, except that Rishi is supposed to be the clever one. It's proven he's not and lack of courage/passion to speak up for his beliefs too, consider his relatively young age at this powerful position. Privilege comes with responsibility. I don't see he reflected it well.

Iam4eels · 21/01/2023 12:59

Endlesssummer2022 · 21/01/2023 11:05

For me it’s not the seatbelt thing, it’s the fact that yet again he’s shown poor judgement. He’s like he’s on work experience or pretending to be PM in one of those Westfield dress up centres. He’s such a fucking lightweight. No political sense at all.

I once saw him described as "Rishi Sunak, cos-playing as PM during his gap year" and its so accurate.

the80sweregreat · 21/01/2023 13:34

I'm surprised that the car interior didn't ' ding ' constantly as they drove along , or maybe that's just front belts in some cars ( no idea what car he was sat in)

TheGuv1982 · 21/01/2023 13:38

Pointless fuss if I’m honest, all it’s done is detract from the bigger story, Zahawi’s dodgy tax affairs. Genuine chance to see the Tory Chair resign in disgrace, and face jail.

Topseyt123 · 21/01/2023 13:44

Cuppasoupmonster · 20/01/2023 22:45

It’s one of those ‘crimes’ that is so incredibly minor that virtually everyone has done it in the past couple of months and if this was a politician they happened to like and support, they would quickly switch their view to that as well.

It's not minor if it causes you to be thrown forward and injure/kill a person in the front seat.

I disagree that virtually everyone has done it in the last couple of months. I certainly haven't. The last time I didn't wear a seatbelt in the back of a car was back when cars didn't have seatbelts in the back, so many, many years ago.