What can the Foreign Office actually do when British nationals are caught up in a crisis overseas? @hcdunlop.bsky.social and @howesdaniel.bsky.social break down the support the UK can - and can’t - provide, and why expectations often exceed reality. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...

I absolutely loved listening to this podcast! Such an interesting discussion about what it's like being in parliament from three women with some different experience but lots in common too!

Huge thanks to @elliechowns.bsky.social @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social and Karen Bradley MP for joining me for #IWD2026. Got into quite the debate about what the constituency inbox teaches you about problems facing our public services and frustrations that causes podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Fantastic to see both of the brilliant @emmanorris.bsky.social and @gemmatetlow.bsky.social recognised in this year's Women in Westminster top 100. Both are incredibly impressive colleagues and I've learnt so much from them. www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...

Our in conversation with @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social, Leader of Plaid Cymru, will be starting in 10 minutes. Watch the livestream and submit your questions via Slido www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...

PODCAST 🎙️ All roads lead to Romeo The IfG's experts are in the studio to discuss what new cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo can do to turn the civil service, and perhaps the government, around. PLUS: Ethics in public life and local elections U-turn www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Read this from Hannah - what Antonia Romeo must do now she is cabinet secretary ⬇️

Been thinking about the balance Romeo now needs to strike - which is somehow making civil servants (and politicians) really feel how bad things are in the civil service and how sorely needed reforms are, while also convincing them that she is the person that can change it. Quite the tightrope...

Fwiw this in the Playbook evening email is not me…(am quoted later on) The Mountbatten-Windsor arrest is a challenge alright, but neither the biggest for a new cab sec nor historically challenging for the cab sec Maurice Hankey started in the middle of the First World War! Edward Bridges in 1938!

Really enjoyed discussing what it's like being an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk researcher at the "Working in the think tank sector" event at @resolutionfoundation.org yesterday. Recording available below, with the "Day in a life" panel starting from 1:43. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2S1...

Antonia Romeo appointed as cabinet secretary - @alexgathomas.bsky.social and I wrote last week about the challenges ahead for her and what lessons need to be taken from Wormald's tenure: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/next...

Thank you Playbook for the shout-out this morning- piece is here www.politicshome.com/news/article...

The workload facing MPs and their staff is growing, in ways that aren't visible to the public: casework and the inbox. For @thehousemag.bsky.social, I delved into what the workload looks like, why it's growing, and what this means for how MPs can balance the different aspects of their role

Cat Little requested a direction from the PM on the grounds of propriety and value for money. Given the seniority of the cabinet secretary role and since Cat Little reported to Wormald, she argued that the PM's authorisation was required to approve the severance package.

The government has withdrawn plans to delay elections in 30 areas undergoing local government reorganisation. So where will local elections now take place? We've updated our local elections 2026 explainer www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...

Mum is hanging out with her sister. Their idea of fun on a Monday night currently consists of them sending me questions about what the Cabinet Office actually does.

Good thread from @matthewfright.bsky.social on the government's decision to u-turn on their earlier decision to delay local elections

With central government set to decide new local authority boundaries by March for devolution priority areas - and by the summer for others - join us on 26 February to explore how ministers should decide the shape and size of future unitary authorities. Details and sign‑up link below.👇

Sir Chris Wormald will step down as cabinet secretary @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @hannahkeenan.bsky.social give their take on Wormald's short stint and argue that his replacement needs to be a far more visible civil service leader www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/next...

Last time multiple people covered for cab sec was when Simon Case was ill www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/simo...

Wormald confirmed as leaving as cabinet secretary - interesting that Antonia Romeo (MoJ), James Bowler (HMT) and Cat Little (Cabinet Office) will act as joint interims www.gov.uk/government/n...

PODCAST 🎙️ Resets and resignations: Starmer's worst week yet Former No.10 chief of staff Gavin Barwell joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social to discuss another explosive week at the heart of government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

This from The Times newsletter is also.. not right. As Cabinet Manual sets out, PM appts on basis of advice from outgoing Cab Sec and 1st CS Commissioner. PM is not at all dependent on those previously shortlisted. And can make a direct appt with minimal process (if that person is appropriate)

With reports that Sir Chris Wormald could be stepping down as cabinet secretary, our explainer sets out more about the role, what the cabinet secretary does and how they are appointed. Read to find out more 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ca...

So it looks like Chris Wormald will be leaving his job as cabinet secretary I wrote this just before he was appointed - did he achieve these tasks? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Sounds like Cabinet Secretary is departing. If that is the case, some of details in this may have changed, but the overarching challenges for a new Cab Sec remain the same. Which itself tells a story. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Times (and apparently Cabinet Ministers) apparently confusing Labour Party rules with U.K. constitution Labour Party rules set out what happens if LEADER of party is ‘permanently unavailable’. But they dont match up the principles, precedents and expectations about what happens fo replace a PM. 1/

Cabinet secretaries A 110 year old job. A lot of variation in how past holders have done the job. A lot of debate about whether the job is even doable now. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ca...

I see we are now at the ‘explaining constitutional principles and precedents of scenarios that really aren’t likely to happen’ stage of political crisis.

My campaign to ban political happenings on a sunday so we can all have a weekend is going extremely well......

Keir Starmer will be looking for his third Chief of Staff since becoming PM, after the departure of Morgan McSweeney. What is the role of Chief of Staff to the PM, how did it arise and what is the difference with other key roles in No10? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/do...

Fascinating and appalling stuff on the Mandelson scandal, how it came out, why it didn't come out sooner and what it might now mean. Great to have @pickardje.bsky.social joining @drhannahwhite.bsky.social and @alexgathomas.bsky.social to explore it all. bsky.app/profile/inst...

Delighted that we at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk are once again supporting this annual online event aimed at reaching people currently under-represented in the think tank sector… please share with your networks… www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/worki...

EVENT | Ahead of the seventh election to Senedd Cymru, join us on Monday 2 March for an in conversation with @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social. The Leader of Plaid Cymru will discuss his plan for government and Plaid Cymru’s vision for the future of Wales www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...

The Peter Mandelson case shows the House of Lords needs an independent disciplinary system It is past time the House of Lords removes its own right to sit in judgment on peers who break its code of conduct, says @drhannahwhite.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pete...

Ambassadors are vetted. But when PM is involved pre-appointment, they usually make that judgement on basis of publicly available material about the suitability of the person. And all vetting relies on the individual disclosing information. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/go...

Mandelson has resigned from Lords. So why is he still a Lord? Because the process of retiring from the Lords, or expelled, is not the same as removing their title. See our explainer on how Lords are appointed, vetted, retired or expelled www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/jo...

1/ With only a few months until the May elections, in this new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer we outline where elections are going ahead, where they aren’t, and what’s at stake🧵👇  www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...

Brilliant new report from @gilesyb.bsky.social on how a stronger more economically capable No.10 could help government sharpen up its strategy for raising the rate of growth www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

A new national police force is the right move, but the case for merging local forces is much weaker @cassiarowland.bsky.social gives her verdict on the home secretary's proposals on police reform www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/poli...

And now a more personal blog on what I was driving at in this growth piece, through five years' of frustrated commentary. freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/g...

NEW | Why does the UK struggle with growth? Our latest report from @gilesyb.bsky.social explores how the centre of government can design better growth policy www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

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...

I have a report out today on the near-perennial question of why UK governments struggle to stick at growth policy in anything like a strategic way. Some hurried points:- 0/ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

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

PODCAST 🎙️ Keir Starmer’s Trump diplomacy and Darren Jones’s fast fixes Lord Maude joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social to discuss the latest government reform plans www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

I spoke at the House of Lords Justice & Home Affairs Committee yesterday, on behalf of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, on immigration, citizenship and integration. Thanks to @jlowen.bsky.social, @cassiarowland.bsky.social and @hcdunlop.bsky.social for help on prep! Session here: tinyurl.com/372h6jdk

Key point from Fiona Hill at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event this evening about the Trump presidency, both domestic and foreign: “This is not a normal time and we should not rationalise and analyse this into normalcy”

Hill: talk to a Greenlander or a Dane. Some are thinking of leaving, others are prepared to fight Compares US and NATO to USSR invading Warsaw Pact members

Just starting now. Watch via the link below