Nicola Sturgeon spotted being driven by husband in untaxed car as ex-First Minister insists couple made ‘simple mistake’
NICOLA Sturgeon has admitted being driven to the shops in an untaxed car.
The ex-First Minister got a lift from hubby Peter Murrell in their black Peugeot, which they failed to renew the duty on before August 1 — triggering an offence under the law.
We can reveal the couple forgot to renew their car tax on time for August 1 and were eight days overdue.
After The Scottish Sun flagged the tax was overdue by eight days, the couple — at the centre of a fraud probe — said they’d made a “simple mistake”.
The mistake emerged as the ex-SNP leader was seen shopping in Edinburgh as hubby Mr Murrell sat in the black Peugeot motor.
The couple were seen together as Ms Sturgeon’s successor Humza Yousaf and predecessor Alex Salmond were quizzed about her at nearby festival venues. She appears at the Fringe herself on Thursday.
Aides said they immediately arranged to tax the vehicle – an electric car for which no charge is levied but still has to be taxed.
Ms Sturgeon’s tax blunder is the latest roads law bungle by SNP chiefs. Mr Yousaf was previously fined for driving without insurance, and deputy leader Keith Brown also fell foul of car tax laws this month.
Scottish Conservative chairman and MSP Craig Hoy said: “This is another car crash moment for Nicola Sturgeon and her husband.
“She and Peter Murrell need this latest brush with the law like they need a hole in the head.
“I’m sure this was an innocent error but it’s hugely embarrassing for a couple clearly distracted by other matters.”
The former First Minister was spotted at Craigleith retail park in Edinburgh in a rare public appearance with Mr Murrell since the cop raid on the pair’s Glasgow home in April.
Both have been arrested as part of Police Scotland’s probe into SNP finances and what happened to around £600,000 of donations, but inquiries are ongoing and no charges have been levelled.
An onlooker said Ms Sturgeon had been seen in Boots at the retail park before making her way to the car park.
Mr Murrell was spotted in the driver’s seat and the couple drove off about five minutes later.
The onlooker said: “I couldn’t quite believe it. I saw Nicola walking in on her own. I thought she would have had security but that wasn’t the case.
“She was in the shop for a wee while before coming out.”
The DVLA website says the couple’s black Peugeot had been due to be taxed on August 1.
At the weekend, it emerged SNP deputy leader and MSP Mr Brown had failed to renew his vehicle tax on time at the start of the month for his 11-year-old Volkswagen Passat. The former Justice Secretary said it was an “honest mistake”.
In 2016, Mr Yousaf was fined £300 for driving without insurance while Transport Minister. He too said the incident was an “honest mistake” and said it was “the result of my personal circumstances” during his separation from his first wife.
According to the UK Government website, being the registered keeper of an untaxed vehicle constitutes an offence for which a late licensing penalty letter is issued automatically, with an £80 penalty reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days.
The Peugeot is listed as an electric vehicle but the UK Government website says: “You must tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay.”
Ms Sturgeon’s spokeswoman said: “No tax is paid on the car as it is electric and so no money has ever been outstanding.
“A reminder notice from the DVLA was not received to re-register the vehicle for tax so this eight-day delay was a simple mistake which has been immediately rectified.”
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