Harriet Harman banned from driving

Solicitor-General Harriet Harman was today banned from driving for seven days and fined £400 after being caught driving at 99mph on a motorway.

Ms Harman did not appear in person but pleaded guilty by letter to North Wiltshire Magistrates Court in Chippenham.

The court heard how the MP for Camberwell and Peckham was driving along the westbound carriageway of the M4 near Swindon, Wiltshire, on January 8 this year when she was stopped by police.

Prosecutor Colin Meeke told the court that a laser speed detector had recorded her speed at 99mph in a 70mph limit.

Ms Harman was said to have been taking her son back to Bristol University after the Christmas break.

Representing Ms Harman in her absence, solicitor Tim Dixon said: " Ms Harman is of course extremely sorry that she exceeded the speed limit and she does not seek to make any excuse for the offence.

"She was travelling in the outside lane when she approached and overtook a gaggle of HGV vehicles. She thought she was adhering to the speed limit."

Mr Dixon said his client had been driving for 26 years without incident and the court heard she had a full and clean driving licence.

Ms Harman was extremely sorry and also added police had been very courteous to her, Mr Dixon said. He added: "The weather was bright and she moved into the middle lane to overtake a gaggle of HGVs.

"She doesn't dispute the evidence of the police officers who were courteous throughout."

Sentencing magistrate Vince Foley ordered that the driving ban begin immediately and the fine be paid within 28 days.

She was disqualified for seven days, fined £400 and ordered to pay £35 costs.

Ms Harman, 52, is married with one daughter and two sons. She is the latest in a series of senior government ministers who have fallen foul of Britain's speeding laws.

In July 2000 Home Secretary Jack Straw was pulled over by police in his government car for doing 103mph on the M5.

He was let off the charge when the court accepted that his driver was justified in speeding because he believed there was a potential security risk.

In 1999 Prime Minister Tony Blair was caught when his driver used the M4 bus lane.

He was also let off because of the need for ministers to avoid being stuck in traffic in case they became terrorist targets.

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