The definitive answer to this question is:
If your car fails an MOT then it was deemed to be unroadworthy on the date the test was taken.
It is an offence to drive an unroadworthy car.
If you have the things the car failed its mot on repaired you can continue to drive on your old MOT, however, until you do, you run the risk of being prosecuted for driving an unroadworthy car.
That's because an MOT doesn't warrant a car is roadworthy for the duration of the certificate, but an MOT fail does warrant the car is unroadworthy until the things it failed on have been repaired.
So...whilst you wouldn't be prosecuted for driving without an MOT you would be subject to prosecution for driving an unroadworthy vehicle.
Driving an unroadworthy vehicle is a worse offence than driving without an MOT - additionally, driving an unroadworthy car (an offence which in itself is endorsable with three points) can also lead you to be charged with careless driving (an offence for which you can receive points or even a ban depending on the circumstances)
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