@jstevenyork @colo_lee @ai6yr many older cars are manual, although 30% of cars in UK are now automatic, and its an increasing trend in busier towns and cities (especially as you get closer to London) for young people to learn in and drive automatic cars.
Unlike USA if you pass your road test in an automatic you cannot drive a manual without taking another test, but this is less of a hardship for middle class young people who are going to buy an automatic for their first car anyway