On the surface, a minimum learning period, such as the proposal by the UK Governemnt in early 2026 , sounds straightforward. More time learning should mean safer drivers, fewer rushed tests and better skills before a licence is issued. But once time becomes a legal requirement instead of something learners and instructors determine between themselves, the system around driver training quietly changes. Driving is one of the few skills where the state controls not only the fina

Universities are often discussed as places of learning, debate, and research. That framing understates their real role. In many towns and cities, a university functions less like a school and more like an anchor institution — one that quietly holds together jobs, spending, reputation, and long-term economic direction. When an anchor weakens or disappears, the damage rarely looks dramatic at first. It spreads slowly. In the UK for example, the recent decision to close the Sout