"Every time I pull a lever" says the Prime Minister. This dead metaphor is killing his ability to get things done. There aren't any levers. There's only leadership. howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/there-aren...

There's often pressure to set up a public inquiry, but they're expensive and rarely a panacea. Lots of insight in this report on how we can use them better!

The updated Governance Code for Public Appointments is a major step forward - good to see many previous IfG recommendations taken on board. There is more to do, however, as shown by recent antics at DCMS. My and @drmatthewgill.bsky.social 's thoughts below👇

A case study well worth noting, with a recurrent theme that policy targeting is crude - due to: political incentives; easy levers not aligning with need; markets requiring careful stewardship; central decision-making being in tension with local sensitivity. Reads across to many other policy fields!

NEW REPORT: abolishing NHS England could help simplify accountability, improve prioritisation and create savings. But the change could also lead to increases in policy incoherence and blame culture, as well as the loss of skills, capacity and focus on areas outside the day-to-day NHS.

The highlights of my latest thinking on regulation and growth are now here for you in @civilserviceworld.bsky.social: www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article... (and if that whets your appetite, more detail here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/... for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk).

Hot on the heels of yesterday's Covid inquiry report on decision making, @shaina-sangha.bsky.social and I have a new report out today looking at how combined epidemiological-economic modelling could help government better prepare for future pandemics www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

1/5 In this paper for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, I evaluate the government’s efforts to make regulation and regulators more supportive of growth: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

1/4 Lisa Nandy may have explained her mistake, but questions remain about the appointment process for Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, mainly for DCMS. Pages 11-12 of the Commissioner's decision notice are worth reading: publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...

This is an important step, but there are still signs of undue caution. More could be done to put civil servants' engagement with those outside on a clearer footing. The comment from @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @drhannahwhite.bsky.social has more!

Important new research from UCL (@chrischirp.bsky.social @martinmckee.bsky.social). It explores both how greater politicisation of scientific agencies might come about and why it matters. Comparative international research forcefully illustrates the stakes involved. This is well worth your time.

1/ My latest for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is on the proposed “democratic lock” over the Sentencing Council. I argue that David Lammy, as new justice secretary, should overturn his predecessor's decision that all guidelines the Council issues should be subject to ministerial approval.

@danhaile.bsky.social and I have now looked at the Independent Water Commission's final report for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Lots of creative ideas to improve regulation in the water sector - but transition to the new regime will be tricky... www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm....

1/ The government’s response to the open letter co-ordinated by @instituteforgovernment.org.uk (@drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social) on civil servants speaking in public is not only disappointing, but also surprising...

1/ This is an important comment on civil servant's public voice from @drhannahwhite.bsky.social and @alexgathomas.bsky.social at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. And it could have particular implications for public bodies and regulators. A short thread...

Good to see this new NAO report published this morning: www.nao.org.uk/reports/acco.... Burdens of accountability are proportionately higher for smaller government bodies, but it is also harder for them to get the support they need in government to meet them. Some good ideas here to rectify that.

1/ It’s Industrial Strategy day: www.gov.uk/government/p.... In general, you should follow @gilesyb.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk takes on this, but this thread contains some thoughts on the regulation aspects...

The government’s current focus on regulatory reform is welcome, but I argue for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk that it has an opportunity to think more systematically – and ambitiously – if it can organise itself in a way that makes that possible: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/regu...

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) has reviewed its supported bodies landscape (I provided some comparative input from the UK system). Sensible recommendations published today to ensure accountability and minimise the proliferation of new bodies: bprcdn.parliament.scot/published/SS....

New research - and guidance - from colleagues at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the important subject of ministers' roles during crises...

1/ PACAC is holding an inquiry on public bodies. It was an honour to appear as their first public witness for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk last month. It was a wide ranging hearing, and the recording and transcript are here: committees.parliament.uk/event/24075/.... A thread of clips…

The spending review has committed to more "closures, mergers and consolidations" of public bodies, when the outcome of its review is announced. But no timeline was published - which is good, because acting in haste could be a mistake...

Lots to welcome in last week's review of the water sector, where a positive narrative focused on long term investment is needed. @danhaile.bsky.social is leading @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's comparative work on investment in energy and water utilities, so do follow him for more on this!

Some welcome urgency from government on getting water infrastructure built as quickly as possible - which is crucial in the context of an increasing demand shortfall, as I explored in a blog for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk last month www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/inde...

Are you a commercially minded communicator with a passion for public policy? We are looking for a Senior Partnerships Officer to join our team. Applications are open until Sunday 8 June - find out more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Monday's announcement puts government at risk of cutting quango numbers for its own sake. But efficiency, accountability, and freeing up ministers to focus on the big picture are what really matter, and there are better ways to achieve these things. My latest for @instituteforgov.bsky.social:

A new piece from @drmatthewgill.bsky.social and me Ministers are getting into gear & rightly want to reform the state. But their initiatives still seem ad hoc, a reaction to the frustrations of governing. It’s time for a coherent & compelling plan www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/whit...

Interested in making government more effective? Applications for our 2025–26 research internship programme, starting in September 2025, are now open. Closing date: Tuesday 29 April, 11:00 ⏰ Find out more: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Some more detailed thoughts on the regulatory action plan published last week...

Jones is right that financial and performance reporting is currently a bureaucratic mess. The plans to streamline the process are welcome and will enable better decision making. But whether that leads to better public service performance v. much depends on ministers then making the right decisions

1/ Today’s policy paper from HMT on regulation and growth is welcome: www.gov.uk/government/n.... In the main, it grips the need to prioritise growth in an energetic but proportionate way. Nonetheless, implementation of some proposals will be difficult and there are some pitfalls to avoid.

Keir Starmer has announced that the government will be abolishing NHS England. Read our report by @drmatthewgill.bsky.social on how to successfully abolish a public body and the lessons from previous restructures www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Can AI transform civil service productivity? How would you cut the administrative costs of regulation by 25%? And what would that mean for arachnids in Ebbsfleet? Join us to discuss these - and other themes from Keir Starmer's speech - at lunchtime today!

NEW REPORT: almost all prisons have seen skyrocketing rates of violence, protest and self-harm in recent years, but more work & education and more open prisons could turn this around and improve outcomes. 🧵 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The Cabinet Office have just published a wealth of data on public bodies, which you can download wholesale or cut and visualise in a variety of ways: gov.uk/government/p.... A short thread...

The UK establishes some public bodies every year. But how can we do it better? A new @instituteforgov.bsky.social report dives into some case studies to find out: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/... (1/13)

It's good to be here on Bluesky. A post on new research to follow - please bear with any glitches as I learn how to use it!