Speeding Scandal
Former Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith, a prominent Conservative peer, has been handed a driving ban following a series of speeding violations. Goldsmith, aged 48, was found guilty of speeding on four separate occasions in London from April to August 2023. These incidents occurred while he was behind the wheel of a hybrid electric Volkswagen Golf, with the violations recorded in Paddington, Chelsea, and Twickenham.
Lord Goldsmith admitted guilt to these four speeding incidents, as well as three other driving-related offenses, during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. One of these additional charges pertains to an incident in Somerset.
Detailed breakdown of Zac Goldsmith’s speeding incidents:
- April 27, 2023: Goldsmith was recorded driving at 29mph on Chelsea Embankment, exceeding the 20mph speed limit.
- May 31, 2023: He was caught driving at 46mph on the A316 in Twickenham, surpassing the 40mph limit.
- July 18, 2023: He was found to be driving at 28mph on Bayswater Road, near Kensington Gardens, breaching the 20mph limit.
- August 3, 2023: Goldsmith was detected speeding again on the A316, this time at 47mph.
Following these incidents, District Judge Nina Tempia issued an interim disqualification, prohibiting Lord Goldsmith from driving until his sentencing on March 18 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Despite the gravity of the charges, Lord Goldsmith was absent from the hearing.
It’s important to note that Lord Goldsmith, a former London Mayoral candidate in 2016 and a member of Boris Johnson’s cabinet, resigned from his ministerial position in June of the previous year. In his resignation letter, he attributed his decision to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s apparent lack of concern for climate change. He voiced his apprehension that the government was backtracking on its environmental pledges and withdrawing from its role as a global leader in addressing climate and nature issues.
