EDITION 1106
2 FEBRUARY 2026

On this day in 1990, South African President F. W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress, paving the way for the release of Nelson Mandela and the beginning of the end of apartheid. It was a reminder that progress often starts with a single, courageous decision: clarity over comfort, action over inertia.

That theme of attention and intention runs through this week’s edition. In last week’s poll, 39% said reading was their preferred way to switch off, closely followed by 32% who chose walking. Both are telling. One turns inward, the other outward, but each reflects a conscious choice to step away from noise. Leadership, as ever, begins with where we place our focus.

With that in mind, here are ten things you didn’t know last week. As ever, feel free to share this edition - or forward it to colleagues and friends who appreciate a sharper take on leadership and life.

William Montgomery
Editor and CEO, TEN

1. How to make your goals attainable. With January almost behind us, the shine has come off many well-intentioned goals. When progress stalls, we often blame ourselves - a lack of discipline, focus, or willpower. In reality, most goals fail not because of character, but because of design. Progress is built, not willed. These three adjustments will help. READ MORE

2. A British FBI? The government plans to create a new National Police Service - dubbed a “British FBI” - to tackle terrorism, fraud and organised crime, while allowing local forces to focus on everyday policing. It would merge existing national units, set professional standards, oversee training and equipment, and centralise serious crime capability across England and Wales. The leadership question is whether structural reform restores public trust. Reorganisations promise clarity and efficiency, but rarely deliver legitimacy on their own. New titles, commissioners and technology won’t matter if outcomes don’t change. Policing doesn’t suffer from a lack of structures, it suffers from weak accountability and visible results. Without those, this risks becoming another grand redesign that feels distant from lived experience.

3. Are student loans a trap? Student loans are increasingly functioning like a long-term graduate tax, shaped by deliberate government policy choices. Freezing the repayment threshold while charging high, inflation-linked interest means many graduates are paying for years without reducing what they owe. For some, balances continue to rise despite regular repayments. The leadership issue sits upstream. Young people are encouraged towards university with limited understanding of cost, risk, alternatives, or long-term consequences. Higher education can be transformational, but funding systems should be transparent and proportionate. When policy obscures reality, aspiration turns into resentment. Good leadership doesn’t just expand access, it ensures people know what they’re signing up for, and why.

4. Mind the potholes. Plans to bring the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain have hit an unexpected snag: potholes. The 1,000-year-old cloth is due to be displayed at the British Museum, but French conservationists worry that the UK’s cratered roads could subject it to damaging vibrations en route. It’s hard not to smile; and wince. In the early hours of this morning, a 100mm, water-filled pothole was enough to blow out a my nearside rear tyre on a routine country drive. When a medieval tapestry is considered more fragile than our infrastructure, something has gone awry. Leadership often focuses on the headline projects, but reputation is shaped by the basics. Even cultural diplomacy, it seems, now requires a smooth ride.

5. How long can Starmer last? Pressure is building on Keir Starmer as Labour’s poll ratings sag and nerves spread on the backbenches. Despite seeing off an immediate challenge, doubts about his electoral appeal persist, with some MPs fearing defeat by Reform UK rather than the Conservatives. Potential successors are already being whispered about, and poor results in May’s local and devolved elections could accelerate the mood. The leadership lesson is familiar. Authority rests less on position than momentum. When confidence drains, speculation fills the gap. Leaders rarely fall because of one bad poll, but because belief quietly evaporates before anyone says it aloud. How long do you think Keir Starmer will last as Labour leader? VOTE HERE

6. Why local elections are cancelled. Some council elections in England will be postponed for at least a year as the government presses ahead with major local government reorganisation. Ministers argue that delaying votes avoids cost and complexity while councils are merged or abolished. Critics counter that extending councillors’ terms without an election disenfranchises millions of voters and weakens democratic consent. The leadership issue is legitimacy. Reform may be necessary, but democratic systems rely on renewal and accountability. Cancelling elections - even temporarily - carries a reputational cost. When convenience overrides participation, trust erodes. Structural change should simplify governance, not suspend scrutiny. In a healthy democracy, reform is something leaders do with voters, not instead of them.

7. A test of belonging. The Gorton and Denton by-election is shaping up as more than a local contest. A Reform UK candidate has declined to clarify past remarks suggesting Britishness requires more than legal citizenship, prompting sharp criticism in one of England’s most diverse constituencies. The leadership issue isn’t ideology, it’s ambiguity. When leaders refuse to explain what they mean by belonging, voters fill the vacuum with their own conclusions. In a democracy, clarity matters as much as conviction. Elections rarely turn on abstract arguments alone; they hinge on whether people feel recognised, respected, and certain about what a party stands for.

8. Back the core. Apple reported a 16% jump in quarterly revenue to nearly $144bn, driven by what CEO Tim Cook called “simply staggering” iPhone demand. iPhone revenue alone rose 23%, with especially strong growth in China, up 38%. The leadership lesson isn’t just about product strength, it’s about focus. While wearables and Macs declined, Apple doubled down on what mattered most to customers and executed relentlessly. Great leaders don’t chase balance for its own sake. They back their core, accept trade-offs, and invest where conviction meets demand.

9. From Melbourne to Wildmoor. When Carlos Alcaraz won the Australian Open, beating Novak Djokovic 2:6 6:2 6:3 7:5, he became the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam - all four majors, across surfaces, under pressure. At Wildmoor on Saturday, our own inaugural “slam” concluded in similar fashion. Natasha and Simon prevailed 6:3 3:6 6:1 after resetting when momentum slipped. Different stages, same lesson. Championships aren’t about avoiding wobble; they’re about responding faster. Adaptability beats perfection, whether under the lights in Melbourne or on a familiar club court.

10. The bottom line. Some 707,000 graduates are now claiming benefits - up 46% since before the pandemic - with health-related inactivity more than doubling since 2019. Meanwhile, one in four English adults now report not drinking alcohol at all, a quiet behavioural shift led by younger people.