Sturgeon’s first big test will be getting her driving licence
Nicola Sturgeon is learning to drive to prepare her for a new life outside politics.
She’s taking driving lessons for the first time after spending the last 15 years as a Cabinet minister and First Minister with a chauffeur-driven car.
Speaking to the BBC’s Nicola Sturgeon Podcast, she also addresses rumours on social media about her private life.
On the question of the driving lessons, she says: “They are still in the early stages.
“It’s about achieving a bit of personal freedom and part of the next phase of life.
“There may be a bit of a midlife assessment as well – I am 53 this year.”
Her friend, SNP Glasgow councillor Ricky Bell, explains the driving lessons decision a bit further.
He says: “Anyone who knows Nicola knows she has been signalling for a wee while that she was likely to go. The big thing was when she said she was taking driving lessons.
“You don’t take driving lessons if you are going to be chauffeured about as first minister.”
When asked why she didn’t have a licence, Ricky adds: “She never ever sat a driving test. She said to me many years ago that she didn’t want to sit a driving test in case she failed, because up to that point she had never failed an exam.”
Sturgeon says: “I read accounts of my life on social media and I think it is so much more glamorous sounding and so much more exciting. I have houses everywhere if you believe social media.”
Author Val McDermid reveals she was one of a few friends who Sturgeon texted before her resignation announcement last month.
Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross also spoke about a £50 bet that he had with Sturgeon in 2021 in which he said she would quit during the term of the new parliament.
They then had a “double or quits” bet of £100 on which of them would last longest.
Sturgeon says: “I will honour the bet.
“As it is going to charity, I will not quibble.”
Outgoing Deputy First Minister John Swinney also reveals in the podcast that he tried to resign in 2016 and 2021 but Sturgeon refused to let him go.