For this MP £200 is nothing but for a 17 year old it might be the equivalent of a £20 fine.

Bingalau

Are you sure you've got that the right way round?

WTM

I see there's the usual amount of knee-jerking going on.

The normal penalty for a first offence of driving without a valid MOT is a £200 fine and six points on your licence, provided there are no aggravating circumstances. A banning penalty is something that Magistrates have discretion over, so they'll decide each case on its merits, and the fine can go up to a maximum of £1000, again depending on circumstances.

The driving without insurance offence carries a fine of up to £5000 and a discretionary ban penalty. Again, the penalties are related to circumstances.

In this case the man pleaded guilty, he obviously cooperated fully with the Police and the courts, and the Magistrates imposed what they though was an appropriate penalty. It happens dozens of times a day up and down the country, I wouldn't have thought this case is worthy of much coverage, but no doubt the Tory press will make as much hay as possible while there's the smallest amount of sunshine.

WTM Possibly?