According to The Telegraph, Nicola Sturgeon is in the “early stages” of learning to drive.

As she prepares to stand aside as Scottish First Minister, she will also lose her chauffeured ministerial car.

Her long career in politics, including eight years as First Minister at the helm of the Scottish government, has meant she never got around to learning to drive.

The outgoing SNP leader described the move as being “part and parcel of the next phase of life”.

In the driving seat

This is all part and parcel of life after high office as she looks to play more of a role in family and leisurely life according to friend Ricky Bell.

“Anyone who knows Nicola knows she has been signalling for a wee while she was likely to go,” he said, speaking to the BBC’s Nicola Sturgeon Podcast.

“And I think the big thing was she said she was taking driving lessons.

“You don’t need driving lessons if you are going to be chauffeur driven about as the First Minister.”

He added: “She said to me many years ago she didn’t want to sit her driving test in case she failed, because up until that point in her life she had never failed an exam.”

Ms Sturgeon told the podcast the driving lessons are “in the early stages”.

The 52-year-old said getting behind the wheel is about “achieving a bit of personal freedom that I have chosen not to have to the same extent” while pursuing a political career.

“It’s just part and parcel of the next phase of life,” Ms Sturgeon added.

On the road

The Nicola Sturgeon Podcast will be available from Monday March 27. This is also the day the new SNP leader is announced.

Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan are all hoping to be the next SNP leader – and therefore Scotland’s sixth first minister.

On Saturday Mr Yousaf said he hopes to have Ms Sturgeon on “speed dial” if he is elected.

“I think they will want to give the new leader a bit of space.