i didn’t see that in your post. The below is from the Police and not hearsay or rumour. I wouldn’t drive the car. It’s the drivers responsibility to ensure the car is road legal. There are no exceptions and it’s down to the Police officer whether to enforce.
Police Officer: Any driver who drives a vehicle, whether it belongs to them or not, has a responsibility to ensure that they are insured to drive the vehicle, that the vehicle is fully road legal, taxed and MOT'd. If you are stopped by the police it is you as the driver who will face prosecution.