Why was Liverpool pensioner Paul Lawrence fined by the local council for driving his car down a bus lane in the city’s busy centre? Was it because he was, er, driving his car down a bus lane in the city’s busy centre? Or is it, as he believes… because he supports Nigel Farage’s Reform UK?
After being caught red-handed tootling through the signposted bus lane in the city’s Irvine Street and receiving a £35 fine, poor Paul was forced to go to his local newspaper and claim he was being victimised for supporting the Turquoise Tories. Lawrence was displaying a Reform UK sticker in the rear window of his car.
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“I just wonder if their decision is because I have a Reform UK sticker on the rear window of my car, which can be clearly seen in their evidence photo,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “It bears the question.
“It was only a short distance, I live in Knowsley Village and very rarely drive into Liverpool city centre, we usually use the train. To some people £35 isn’t a lot of money but in today’s economy, it’s a hardship, we’re on a fixed income as pensioners,” continued Lawrence who, according to the picture on the Echo’s website, drives a Toyota Land Cruiser (average price £75,000-80,000).
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For their part, Liverpool City Council say that “the bus lane on Irvine Street is in operation at all times to allow for regular bus services to avoid congestion. It is clearly signposted, both with markings on the road and a blue road sign.
“Vehicles must not use this lane to turn left. It is a road traffic offence to drive in any bus lane while it is in operation, and ANPR [automatic number plate recognition] cameras are used to enforce this.”
Ah, but do those cameras also automatically recognise stickers of political support? Well, probably not. But that’s not going to stop Reform supporters playing the victimhood card and running off to the papers when they’re caught out in the wrong!
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