Nicola Sturgeon passes her driving test at the age of 53 after ex-SNP leader claimed getting behind the wheel of a car will help her ‘achieve a bit of personal freedom’ that she didn’t enjoy as Scotland’s First Minister

Nicola Sturgeon passed her driving test today – on the first attempt – at the ‘tender age’ of 53.

The former SNP leader revealed her achievement on social media and expressed her hope it ‘proves that it’s never too late in life to do something new’.

Ms Sturgeon was Scotland’s first minister for more than eight years and began driving lessons after deciding to quit frontline politics in March.

She has spoken of how learning to drive was part of a wish to have more ‘personal freedom’ away from Bute House.

Ms Sturgeon praised her ‘brilliant’ instructor when revealing how she had passed her test in an Instagram post this afternoon.

Nicola Sturgeon praised her ‘brilliant’ instructor when revealing how she had passed her test in an Instagram post this afternoon

The former SNP leader expressed her hope her achievement ‘proves that it’s never too late in life to do something new’

Ms Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell suffered a car-related embarrassment in August when it emerged their vehicle had been left untaxed

The couple own an electric vehicle which still has to be registered for tax, even though no charge is levied

‘So this happened today – at the tender age of 53, I passed my driving test (first time!!!),’ she wrote.

‘I couldn’t have done it without my brilliant instructor Andy MacFarlane of Caledonian Learner Driver Training.

‘It was really important to me, as a 53-year-old former FM, not just to have an excellent teacher but someone I could trust and feel comfortable with – Andy was all of that and more.

‘The whole experience has taken me well out of any notion of a comfort zone, but hopefully proves that it’s never too late in life to do something new.’

In a BBC interview earlier this year, Ms Sturgeon described how her wish to learn to drive as ‘part and parcel’ of the ‘next phase’ of her life.

‘Learning to drive back in the day was just one of the things I just never made the time to do because I was just so focused on other things,’ she said.

‘Part of stepping down is just achieving a bit of personal freedom that I have chosen not to have to the same extent.

‘So it’s just part and parcel of the next phase of life.’

Despite her resignation as first minister and SNP leader in March, Ms Sturgeon remains in the Scottish Parliament as MSP for Glasgow Southside.

She suffered a car-related embarrassment in August when it emerged her and her husband’s car was left untaxed.

Ms Sturgeon was pictured getting a lift from Peter Murrell in their black Peugeot as she went shopping in Edinburgh.

The couple said they’d made a ‘simple mistake’, while aides added they’d immediately arranged to tax the vehicle after not receiving a DVLA reminder notice. 

Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell own an electric vehicle which still has to be registered for tax, even though no charge is levied.

It was a rare public appearance from the couple together since both were arrested – and subsequently released without charge – earlier this year as part of Police Scotland’s ongoing probe into the SNP’s finances.

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