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Rishi Sunak has been spoken to by police after walking his dog without a lead in a London park – right beside a sign that warns against doing just that.
TikToker Lucy MacDonald Conno was taking a stroll through Hyde Park when she spotted the prime minister’s fox red Labrador having a sniff near the edge of the Serpentine lake.
Despite a sign on the path saying owners must keep their dogs on a lead or risk breaking the law, one-year-old Nova was not attached to one.
Lucy took a video of the sign and the dog walking around unconstrained, before the PM got a hold of his collar and put the lead back on.
The caption on the TikTok reads: ‘Lol as if Rishi Sunak put his dog on the lead when he saw me filming the sign saying dogs must be on a lead.’
Alongside the video, which is soundtracked with the song Boy’s a Liar Pt 2 by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice, Lucy has written: ‘Rishi Sunak pls dont sue me for defamation thanks.’
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘We are aware of a video showing a dog being walked off the lead in Hyde Park.
‘An officer, who was present at the time, spoke to a woman and reminded her of the rules. The dog was put back on the lead.
‘There was no further police involvement.’
The prime minister’s spokesman told ITV News: ‘I’m not going to be commenting on the filming of the prime minister and his family.
‘You can see the video, which speaks for itself.’
Then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak with Nova ahead of the October 2021 budget (Picture: Twitter)
An advice page for dog walkers on the Royal Parks website reads: ‘Dogs are welcome in all the Royal Parks although there are some places where they are not allowed or must be kept on a lead.
‘These are clearly indicated within each park and are usually ecologically sensitive sites, deer parks, children’s play areas, restaurants, cafes and some sports areas.
‘When walking your dog in the Royal Parks please respect the wildlife as well as the other park users by keeping your dog under control.’
The video comes less than two months after the PM was handed a fine for not wearing a seat belt while he was being driven in a moving car.
However, there is no indication that he broke the law with his actions in the dog-walking video.
Hyde Park is one of the 10 Royal Parks in London, with different rules for dogs and dog owners in different areas (Picture: Getty Images)
One of the signs in the park warning people to keep their dogs on a lead (Picture: SOPA Images)
According to the sign at Hyde Park, if a dog enters the lake or disturbs wildlife their owner could be committing an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The prime minister got Nova the Labrador as an eight-week-old puppy in July 2021, when he was still the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Back then, he was competing for the title of Top Dog of Downing Street with Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds’ white Jack Russell cross Dilyn.
After moving into 10 Downing Street with Rishi Sunak in October last year, Nova was pictured sporting a poppy collar for Remembrance Day on the steps in front of the famous door.
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An eagle-eyed TikToker spotted Nova the Labrador sniffing around where he shouldn’t be.