Phone gaffe Minister 'was stupid'

Mr Balls, who is married to fellow Cabinet Minister Yvette Cooper, was issued with a 60 fine last Sunday when they were driving from Yorkshire to London with their children.

Yesterday, at a London news conference, Mr Balls apologised for his "stupid" behaviour.

He said: "It was a fair cop. I 100 per cent support the police and the law. I've said it was a mistake. Of course I'm sorry about it.

"It was a stupid thing to do and I deeply regret it."

He said he took his phone off the cradle because he did not want to wake his children.

"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," he said.

"I 100 per cent support the

law on mobile phones – it's there to protect the safety of all drivers, passengers and pedestrians."

Earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "These things happen and I hope he's going to apologise, as he will."