As the government was forced by its backbenchers into yet another retreat this week over the opposition's humble address, @jackpannell.bsky.social argues this increasingly muscular parliament may begin to push the government in an area where it has historically had little say: Foreign policy.

Some thoughts on Chris Wormald's short stint as cabinet secretary, and what Starmer needs from his next pick - which includes someone who's going to be a much more visible leader for hundreds of thousands of civil servants. 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/next...

Starmer has to survive 38 days to have had a longer tenure than Rishi Sunak. If a successor were to be in place by 13th July, we'd have had 7 PMs in a decade, which, by my reckoning, is the most since the 8 of 1827-37.

The UK’s nuclear sector is regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation - but what exactly does it do? @howesdaniel.bsky.social and @drmatthewgill.bsky.social set out its remit, powers and how it oversees 36 licensed sites across Great Britain. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/of...

Really enjoyed this week’s @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast with man-of-the-moment @pickardje.bsky.social and @drhannahwhite.bsky.social Listen to hear Jim’s inside account of how he got such a series of mega-scoops podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

What does government need to function more effectively at the centre and support long‑term growth? Our latest report by @gilesyb.bsky.social explores reforms, roles and coordination across Whitehall. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Remarkable stat from the latest report on R&R: "Between 2021/22 and 2023/24 reactive maintenance tasks increased by 70%" (Report here committees.parliament.uk/publications...)

On 14 January Wes Streeting said that waiting lists had fallen three times faster in 20 areas of the country where crack teams had been deployed. We’ve looked at this claim and have questions. 🧵 www.gov.uk/government/n...

"You're asking them to make a really big, complicated, political, economic calculus about where their diminishing political capital should go. You can't do that with three or four people." ICYMI @gilesyb.bsky.social discussed how the centre can design better growth policy on Inside Briefing.

Since reforms made in 2014 and 2015, there is now a mechanism for suspending or expelling a member of the Lords from the House for certain reasons and if specific conditions are met. This would NOT, however, deprive somebody of their title. That would require legislation.

Removing titles and removing membership of the House of Lords are not the same thing, I mutter to myself for the nth time today

Labour has set itself the mission of markedly raising the UK’s growth rate. In our latest report, @gilesyb.bsky.social says the government is right to be ambitious – and explores what the centre can do to design better growth policy www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

NEW | Improving transport connectivity is one of the central policy objectives of mayors across England. So what approaches have been tried – and what lessons can mayors and strategic authorities learn from each other? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

My take on the government's plan for police reform: a welcome attempt at ambitious, long-term change – but one that risks making police leadership and accountability too remote from local areas 🧵 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/poli...

Parliament Acts are rarely used but I’m not sure I’d call them archaic- anyway, here’s some more detail on what they are and how they work www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/pa...

Today the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill - granting priority for training to UK & Irish medical school graduates - will be fast-tracked through the Commons in one sitting. Why is it being fast-tracked, and is it an appropriate procedure? 🧵 www.hansardsociety.org.uk/news/parliam...

Government taskforces are not a long-term solution for the problems facing the state Darren Jones needs a plan for long-term reforms, as well as short-term delivery, says @hannahkeenan.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

ON THE BLOG: Why we need to strengthen and codify small party rights in the House of Commons Louise Thompson explains the obstacles facing small parties and calls on parliamentary institutions to formalise informal arrangements and consider ways to increase equalities of opportunity for all parties

Short comment from me about SEND reform: Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive. Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders

Today, in her keynote speech at the Institute for Government, the FM set out her vision for the future of devolution in Wales, including some of the IfG's favourite topics: the Barnett formula and intergovernmental relations. 🧵below on some of the key points and where you can find out more.

Me: Absolutely ridiculous that this is how we handle MPs resigning in 2026 Also me: Explaining these weird quirks of parliament keeps me in a job

In west London for @darrenpjones.bsky.social speech on reforming government An audience of politicians, the media, think tankers and the like. As far as I can see no cabinet secretary or perm secs… not a great signal for what comes next

At what3words for Darren Jones speech on 'Move fast and fix things: modernising Whitehall to deliver for Britain' @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's Hannah White asks what will make this attempt at reform different - says what matters is what comes next

Since the 2024 general election, 11 ministers have resigned from Keir Starmer’s government. Which ministers have resigned and why? New explainer by @meganbryer.bsky.social is out now! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...

After Darren Jones joined IfG this week, @hannahkeenan.bsky.social and I had some thoughts about how he can make good on his plans for reforming the state: - show that his plan is different to those that have come before - ensure he's not spreading himself too thinly - set a clear vision

Following some recent high-profile political defections, @alfiesteer.bsky.social and Dr @emmapeplow.bsky.social have delved into the History of Parliament's #OralHistory archive to explore some historical cases of MPs who 'crossed the floor' and changed their party affiliation.

After a good start, Darren Jones needs to set out his plan for radical state reform New plans must be bold enough to meaningfully shift the dial on an intransigent state www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/darr...

Niche but interesting alert! The Committee on Standards has made a recommendation about the register of interests of MPs' staff It highlights the difficult balance between transparency, accountability & security interests but also possibly narrows the use of the register in an unsatisfactory way

DHSC published its impact statement for the 10 Year Health Plan this week (yes, that is 6 months after it published the plan) It's more measured and clear-eyed than the original document and quite a contrast to some of the effusive optimism in the plan Some of the things that caught my eye 👇

A great thread from @cassiarowland.bsky.social - one of these inaccuracies is the q of the use of AI. Our recent Whitehall Monitor AI chapter emphasises that these new tools do not exist in a void; existing systems must adapt to mitigate new risks www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership. She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform

Going to tell people in the South that this is actually what the North looks like

At the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference, Darren Jones sets out what his role is all about: recognising that delivery is different to policy, getting comms clear about government successes, and exercising the authority of the PM across the system

Wes Streeting: It does the centre-left "no favours" blaming the civil service for struggles to deliver in government "If we tell the public that we can’t make anything work, then why on earth would they vote to keep us in charge?" @matildamartin.bsky.social reports

The @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual stocktake and analysis of the civil service is out today! There's loads to dive into from this huge cross IfG effort, led by my fantastic colleague @hannahkeenan.bsky.social

Reposting our IfG starter pack - ahead of our conference tomorrow, make sure you're following all my fantastic colleagues:

The government set up 7 new public inquiries in 2025 Which means as we start 2026 there are 27 public inquiries currently underway (21 statutory inquiries) This is a huge number, at the start of 2016 there were only 10 public inquiries ongoing

Hard work and time matter—but they’re not enough. In 2026, Keir Starmer must set out a clear, positive vision for the future, backed by real plans and delivered by capable leadership. @drhannahwhite.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/keir...

New to Bluesky? Or just interested in the workings of government in the UK? Check out our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk starter pack here - find all my fantastic colleagues and follow for their insight and analysis go.bsky.app/P7JZCH

Looking forward to this, one for @studyofparl.bsky.social and others interested in the role parliaments play during crises and emergencies.

Really looking forward to this event in a couple of weeks - info on how to join us in Paolo's posts below:

Fantastic line-up for our big @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference next week, including Darren Jones, Chief Sec to the PM, talking about his unique role in government. All the info on how to join us is here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

The government set up 7 new public inquiries in 2025 Which means as we start 2026 there are 27 public inquiries currently underway (21 statutory inquiries) This is a huge number, at the start of 2016 there were only 10 public inquiries ongoing

A reminder for anyone new to Bluesky (or who just wants to follow more policy wonks here) that I've made a starter pack of all the think tanks I've spotted on the platform and the researchers working at them (if you're missing and want adding in let me know!) - go.bsky.app/Geu9Jd8

How well do No.10 and the Treasury work together to deliver the government's economic priorities? Join us on Tuesday 13 Jan as we explore the centre of government with Ed Balls, @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social @ayeshahazarika.bsky.social and Sajid Javid www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

📝Our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report with @jackpannell.bsky.social & @emmanorris.bsky.social out today sets out out the underlying problems with the way public inquiries are established We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up

Public inquiry reform must be targeted at the right problems www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/publ...

New comment ✍️ From me & @jackpannell.bsky.social alongside the launch of our new report today "Public inquiry reform must be targeted at the right problems - Government reforms to public inquiries need to address the role played by ministers"

📝Our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report with @jackpannell.bsky.social & @emmanorris.bsky.social out today sets out out the underlying problems with the way public inquiries are established We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up

NEW | How can the government ensure inquiries are set up to succeed? Early decisions can set inquiries off on the wrong path. Our report makes a series of recommendations for reforms designed to ensure inquiries are fit for purpose www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...