In the TV version of that report the reporter who wrote the story Marc Ashdown admits he was caught by it a couple of months ago which to me makes the whole story just an attempt to prove to his wife he isn't a fuckwit because "look at all the other people".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68658209
This has been a rule for years now. It's like turning up at the airport with your National Insurance card.