Tom Tugendhat: Government minister faces possible driving ban for using phone behind the wheel

Home Office minister accused of breaking the law in south west London

Home Office minister Tom Tugendhat (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

A Home Office minister faces a possible driving ban after being stopped by police while using his mobile phone behind the wheel.

Tom Tugendhat is accused of breaking the law on April 14 on Wandsworth High Street in south west London.

He was spotted by a police officer and sent a notice of intended prosecution earlier this year.

While the MP surrendered his driving licence and tried to pay a fine for the alleged offence, he already has six points on his driving licence and so has been prosecuted.

Using a mobile phone while driving can result in a further six penalty points. Drivers can be disqualified if they tot up 12 points within three years.

In a statement to the court, PC Joseph Robson said he spotted the politician’s car shortly before 2.45pm.

“I noticed the driver of this vehicle was using a handheld mobile device whilst driving,” he said.

“The device was being held in their left hand to the front, in front of themselves. I saw this from around 3m, in good daylight with no obstructions, I saw this for around 20 seconds.

“The driver did appear to be having a conversation. The driver did not appear to be operating the device.

“I stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver. I confirmed they weren’t making emergency contact to the 999 service. I pointed out the offence where they confirmed the communication was using maps.”

Mr Tugendhat was appointed security minister at the Home Office by Liz Truss in September – a position he has kept under Rishi Sunak.

A spokesman for the MP said: “Tom accepts that holding his phone while driving is an offence.

“Tom immediately put himself on a driving course of his own volition. He received the court documents six months later and has entered a guilty plea.

“He apologises unreservedly and will accept the outcome of the case.”

It is understood that Mr Tugendhat informed the Home Office permanent secretary about the driving offence when he was appointed as a minister in September.