Sunday 4 October 2009

Harriet Harman accused of crashing while driving using a mobile phone

Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman is being investigated by the police after she was involved in a traffic collision, it was revealed last night.

The MP for Camberwell and Peckham is reported to have wound down her window following the crash and said to witnesses: "I'm Harriet Harman – you know where you can get hold of me," before driving off.

The accident, which is said to have occurred while the leader of the House of Commons was using her mobile phone, did not result in any injuries.

Witnesses say Harman failed to leave any of her insurance or registration details at the scene, an offence carrying a possible six-month jail term.

In 2003, Harman was fined £400 and banned from driving for a week after being convicted of driving at 99mph on a motorway. She was also issued with a £60 fixed-penalty notice and three penalty points in April 2007 for driving at 50mph in a 40mph zone in the A14 in Suffolk.

According to police sources

Ms Harman is being investigated for driving without due care and attention, driving while illegally using a mobile phone and failing to stop after an accident, the most serious of the three offences.