Ed Balls fined for using mobile phone while driving

Mr Balls, who is married to fellow Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper, said that the incident happened last Sunday when they were driving south with their children.

"Although our car has hands-free, I took my phone off the cradle because I did not want to wake the kids," he said.

"We got waved down by a police car almost immediately. I had no points on my licence and accepted the fine and three points without complaint.

"I 100% support the law on mobile phones - it's there to protect the safety of all drivers, passengers and pedestrians."