Emily Thornberry says no.10 desire to appoint Mandelson seems to have been more important than any security concerns. Starmer says absolutely not. But - it was still a Starmer judgment call to announce Mandelson without waiting for vetting, when a lot was known publicly. There is a judgment there.

Excellent new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment by @hannahkeenan.bsky.social on the handling of the Mandelson vetting row fall-out - and the damage being done to civil service-ministerial relations.

With the Peter Mandelson appointment as UK ambassador to the US back in the headlines, it's worth understanding how the UK government's national security vetting system actually works. Our explainer sets out the process: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/go...

There's so much to write about everything that's happening with Mandelson vetting fight (and always happy to explain the process, others have done so v well on here). But the v. aggressive approach from no10 is over the weekend is just so damaging - so have tried to capture some of that

It's worth saying this point about security vetting happening after appointment (and that now changing) is my understanding of how it did work. Officials would usually be already vetted but political appointments would happen after.

📣Its the final day to register to vote in the Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections as well as the local elections in England. Our elections hub has all the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk analysis: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/our-work/top...

As we gear up for the PM's statement, check out this key analysis from my brill @instituteforgovernment.org.uk colleague @hannahkeenan.bsky.social- all you need to know about what's happened and what impact it's having on an already fragile system: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mand...

The Mandelson vetting blame-game is causing serious damage to ministerial-civil service relations Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US has highlighted poor process in government, says @hannahkeenan.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mand...

WEBINAR | Civil service leadership, diversity and morale 📆Tuesday 21 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:15 Join us tomorrow for the third of our 'A state rewired?' series exploring the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026 and the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale.

Our in conversation with James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will be starting in 10 minutes. Join us online and submit your questions via Slido www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/james-...

The English devolution bill: small but important steps on public health. As government moves to give mayors a clearer role in improving health, our comment sets out some key lessons from DevoLab for how mayors can tackle inequalities: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

The “welfare versus defence” framing oversimplifies the difficult trade-offs If Keir Starmer decides to increase defence spending then the trade-offs required go much further than cutting one part of the budget www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

Hybrid event | TODAY at lunchtime, 12:30–1:30 | @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Treasury Chief Secretary James Murray MP on how government will boost public service productivity. Opening remarks from @andywestwood.bsky.social. Secure your place: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/james-...

New ministers in Wales and Scotland after May’s elections must learn from Labour’s 2024 mistakes Potential office-holders should think about how they will approach the role and try to avoid repeating previous errors www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/new-...

EVENT | In conversation with Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury: How will the government boost public service productivity? 📆Today, 12:30 — 13:30 Join us online or in-person today as Rt Hon James Murray MP discusses plans to improve productivity in the public sector.

The government still needs a coordinated story on its response to the Middle East war @jillongovt.bsky.social says Keir Starmer should talk less about keeping the UK out of the war and more on how the government plans to manage the crisis www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

The English devolution bill: small but important steps on public health. As government moves to give mayors a clearer role in improving health, our comment sets out some key lessons from DevoLab for how mayors can tackle inequalities: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

Diplomatic appointments don’t often make the news - until they do. If you’re interested in how the UK’s ambassadors and high commissioners are appointed (and can be removed), our explainer walks through the system step-by-step: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/se...

Our new IfG report explores what a better system of employment support for people out of work due to ill health could look like. DWP's centralised approach to date has some strengths, but has limited integration with other services and the innovation needed to better understand what works 🧵

EVENT | In conversation with Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury: How will the government boost public service productivity? 📆Monday 20 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:30 Join us online or in-person as Rt Hon James Murray MP discusses plans to improve productivity in the public sector.

NEW | Designing and delivering employment support The government has said it wants to deliver an 80% employment rate. @drbenpaxton.bsky.social and @martha-ford.bsky.social explore how employment support can be designed to achieve this. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

WEBINAR | Civil service leadership, diversity and morale 📆Tuesday 21 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:15 Join us online for the third of our 'A state rewired?' series exploring the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026 and the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale.

With the Peter Mandelson appointment as UK ambassador to the US back in the headlines, it's worth understanding how the UK government's national security vetting system actually works. Our explainer sets out the process: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/go...

The “welfare versus defence” framing oversimplifies the difficult trade-offs If Keir Starmer decides to increase defence spending then the trade-offs required go much further than cutting one part of the budget, writes @drbenpaxton.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

PODCAST 🎙️ Is the UK (and Keir Starmer) under attack? The team discuss Britain's national security - and what Keir Starmer should do about it. Also: A new IfG paper argues the government should go further and faster on devolving employment support. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/collection/p...

Antonia Romeo’s performance objectives are a welcome sign of leadership. Our comment piece analyses the cabinet secretary's performance objectives: why they show evidence of a distinctive leadership style, and contain priorities for reform. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/anto...

1/ As the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill nears the end of its passage through Parliament, I reflect on its introduction of a new health duty for mayors. 🧵👇

EVENT | In conversation with Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury: How will the government boost public service productivity? 📆Monday 20 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:30 Join us online or in-person as Rt Hon James Murray MP discusses plans to improve productivity in the public sector.

With 3 weeks to go until Welsh and Scottish elections, we @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have been looking at what new ministers and current civil servants can learn from the 2024 experience. And Megan and Dan have translated it into Welsh for us! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/new-...

Three weeks to go until the Senedd Cymru elections What do we want? Welsh language content! When do we want it? Now! Very excited we’re publishing two comment pieces in Welsh about the election in the land of my fathers 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @meganbryer.bsky.social @howesdaniel.bsky.social top translators

WEBINAR | Civil service leadership, diversity and morale 📆Tuesday 21 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:15 Join us online for the third of our 'A state rewired?' series exploring the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026 and the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale.

These blogs are but a small part of the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's wider coverage of the upcoming local and devolved elections - check out our central hub for loads more: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/our-work/top...

New ministers in Wales and Scotland after May’s elections must learn from Labour’s 2024 mistakes Potential office-holders should think about how they will approach the role and try to avoid repeating previous errors, says @timdurrant.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/new-...

The civil service in Wales must be prepared for a major change after May’s elections Welsh civil servants adjusting to a new government, after decades of Labour ministers, is a challenge that cannot be underestimated, says @hannahkeenan.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

The English devolution bill: small but important steps on public health As government moves to give mayors a clearer role in improving health, @shawharriet.bsky.social sets out some key lessons from DevoLab for how mayors can tackle inequalities www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

EVENT | In conversation with Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury: How will the government boost public service productivity? 📆Monday 20 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:30 Join us online or in-person as Rt Hon James Murray MP discusses plans to improve productivity in the public sector.

The IMF have downgraded the UK's growth forecasts, following the economic crisis caused by the Iran war. Our new report draws on lessons from recent crises and upcoming crisis policy making research to assess how to respond to the economic shock: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

WEBINAR | Civil service leadership, diversity and morale 📆Tuesday 21 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:15 Join us online for the third of our 'A state rewired?' series exploring the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026 and the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale.

Good to see Helen McNamara echoing the need for the govt to get on front foot ahead of the crisis. @instituteforgovernment.org.uk recommended last week govt set up coordinating machinery and teams working across 3 time horizons www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Rachel Reeves is at the IMF today, who have just downgraded UK growth forecasts. How the centre of government can design better growth policy? And why does the UK struggle with growth? Read our report here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Antonia Romeo’s performance objectives are a welcome sign of leadership. Our comment piece analyses the cabinet secretary's performance objectives: why they show evidence of a distinctive leadership style, and contain priorities for reform. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/anto...

EVENT | In conversation with Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury: How will the government boost public service productivity? 📆Monday 20 April 2026, 12:30 — 13:30 Join us online or in-person as Rt Hon James Murray MP discusses plans to improve productivity in the public sector.

Our online webinar begins in 10 minutes! Tune in to catch the second of our 'A state rewired?' series exploring the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026 and what hopes the government is pinning on digital transformation and AI

Managing the economic consequences of the Iran war Our new report draws on lessons from recent crises and upcoming crisis policy making research to assess how to respond to the economic shock following the Iran war: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

. @hzeffman.bsky.social reporting on BBC R4 Today that govt has created a new "Middle East Response Committee (6.35). This is what @instituteforgovernment.org.uk argued was necessary last week to manage the consequences of the war www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

WEBINAR | Civil service digital transformation, data, and artificial intelligence 📆Today, 12:30-13:15 Join us online today for the second of our 'A state rewired?' series exploring the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026 and what hopes the government is pinning on digital transformation and AI

With the current conflict in the Middle East triggering another energy supply shock, energy resilience is once again rising up the agenda. Read our explainer to find out how vulnerable the UK is to global supply shocks: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/en...

Antonia Romeo’s performance objectives are a welcome sign of leadership. Our comment piece analyses the cabinet secretary's performance objectives: why they show evidence of a distinctive leadership style, and contain priorities for reform. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/anto...

There's more detail on public inquiries - what they are and how they work - as well as a table of the current inquiries that are ongoing in our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/pu...

PODCAST 🎙️ Who will pay the prices of war? The team are joined by economist Duncan Weldon to discuss what the government can actually do to respond to rising energy prices. Also: the project on Universal Credit has nearly reached completion. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...