Between record application numbers and topping the THE graduate employer ranking, recent weeks have brought a lot of excellent news for the fast stream. There is a major opportunity here for the civil service to grasp. Here's how. Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social:

Excellent coverage of the latest fast stream recruitment data from @tevyemarkson.bsky.social (also featuring analysis from our recent @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report). The CSFS is attracting rising numbers of applicants – so what happens once they're on the scheme is even more important.

Special Delivery! @emma-conway.bsky.social and I have been thinking about how Keir Starmer and co (especially Darren Jones) can make a success of 'phase two' - which is all about delivering on the government's priorities. Read more here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/star...

Procurement is massively underrated as an opportunity for improvement, and where a mission-led approach could make a difference. Our NEW REPORT explores why this change is hard, and how procurement should be used to shape markets + drive innovation🧵 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

1/ If you've been itching to know how the size of the civil service has changed... we at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have you covered. I've crunched the numbers from the latest ONS data release, which you can read about here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ci...

The fast stream consistently ranks (near) the top of graduate employer rankings - and this year it's taken the top spot (again!). But while graduates find the scheme very attractive, exclusive @instituteforgovernment.org.uk research shows their expectations aren't always met once on the scheme.

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.

Although PPSs play an important part in maintaining links between ministers and the wider parliamentary party, expanding the payroll vote is no substitute for good party management, says @timdurrant.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/expa...

Here's the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk 'seven things we learned from Keir Starmer's reshuffle' from @jackpannell.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social and I with data from @philipnye.bsky.social & our now updated Ministers Database www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/seve...

Over on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk live blog we're posting our 'cabinet flashcards' - key info on who's who in Starmer's reshuffled cabinet. Helping you prepare for - presumably - the hottest round at every pub quiz this week (if your local one hasn't been cancelled due to tube strikes...)

Latest chart from the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk live blog showing the government line up post weekend reshuffle - lots of new people in new roles Keep an eye on the blog as we take a look at the new intake and what's in their inbox www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

And onto Lammy! Hopefully he'll feel the title of deputy PM makes up for being handed one of the trickiest portfolios in politics at the moment.

As the second reshuffle of the week kicks off, we have launched our liveblog. We will be covering all the ins and outs as well as top analysis from our IfG experts. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

And I thought starting Year 9 was the worst September possible… www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rayn...

With Rayner stepping down we have hit 10 minister's who have oficially resigned from this government. Make sure you are following @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social @rebeccamckee.bsky.social meganbryer.bsky.social for what Starmer will do next with his minsiterial team.

From no reshuffle to a No10 reshuffle to losing the DPM and a potential cabinet reshuffle - what a first week back

A new episode of Inside Briefing the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast is out, with me @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social & @teodorgrama.bsky.social talking about delivery (obvs) and the Civil Service Fast Stream www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/collection/p...

Civil service graduate talent scheme needs urgent reform, says thinktank

NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report just out - on how the fast stream, the civil service’s flagship talent development programme, lost its sense of purpose and how it can get it back (A quick 🧵)

Many organisations run graduate schemes focused on developing future leaders. That's what the fast stream has always been, at its core. It now needs to overcome the instinct to be all things to all people and rediscover that sense of purpose. Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social:

Great to see our latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report on the fast stream covered in The Guardian. The civil service wants the fast stream to do too much, all at once. A smaller programme that is laser-focused on developing future leaders would deliver more for the civil service.

As with all coverage of the civil service internship scheme, it is important to remember: (1) It allows those on it to skip one of 2 or 3 stages of the fast stream recruitment process. Former interns then compete on an equal footing with any and all other applicants to get on the fast stream.

What should the brand new chief secretary to the prime minister do? Thoughts from me for @labourlist.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/09/darr...

Moving the mission delivery unit from the Cabinet Office to No10 is I think a good thing. Looks like gov is going from potentially having lots of big figures doing delivery at the centre, to making clear Darren Jones in charge of it (with Nin Pandit reporting to him). That is useful clarity!

Think 2 big risks in No.10 shake-up are (a) more big figures & no clarity on who does what means duplicative work gumming up the system, and (b) the 'change the way the state works' bit of missions gets totally cannibalised by the 'deliver the plan for change targets' bit of missions.

What does the Darren Jones move to be first ever “chief secretary to the PM” mean for the govt? Here’s our take… www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/keir...

I am really very certain - having also seen 4 iterations of No.10 while working in the Cabinet Office - that adding more people to the centre of government is not the solution here. If the shake-up is on, it better be a proper one.

What do Ken Clarke's time as chancellor, Tessa Jowell's first day as a minister and Tim Loughton's jelly babies have in common? All feature in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Ministers Reflect series! Hear reflections, stories and advice on this special Inside Briefing co-hosted by your truly✨

Re. Farage's £ figures in announcement today on asylum plans, this is not a big money saver for govt. HO's total managed expenditure (for police, asylum, national security etc) in 24/25 was £22.5bn. That's a lot but £8bn less than e.g. DfT and 1/13th of what DWP spends. 1/7

How to successfully deliver refugee resettlement In this paper, @sachinsavur.bsky.social and @catherineriachi.bsky.social summarise a roundtable discussion bringing together different parts of government working on resettlement schemes. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

So, that civil service speaking ban... What does the No 10 guidance actually say? I decided to use a freedom of information request to find out. Here's the response I got... gavin-freeguard.medium.com/no-10-bans-c...

NEW REPORT: how does where you live and your background affect how you do at school? - Inequalities have widened around the country and between groups of children since the pandemic - Progress depends on sharing what works to support disadvantaged pupils & cutting high absence 🧵👇

Here’s our rapid comment on the civil service working class intern proposal - from @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @hcdunlop.bsky.social and me www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/soci...

Eye-catching story about civil service interns needing to come from a lower socio-economic background Some thoughts! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

2025 civil service turnover falls because fewer internal transfers. If really less churn then great. But...pressure to cut headcount can mean broad recruitment freezes (bad!) and managers forced to look within the dept first to fill roles - we don't see that churn (inside a dept) in the stats.

if Mayors ask to be allowed to levy tourist taxes, let them - @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog by me and @tompope.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach... - time to end HMT control freakery

How can government legislate better to deliver major infrastructure projects? Fantastic new paper from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on how to improve the little-known hybrid bill procedure! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Lots of focus right now is (very rightly) on the use - and length of - the super-injunction. But this data breach is a sobering reminder of the extent to which gov botched the 2021 evacuation from Kabul and the impacts of it having done so. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/afgh...

ICYMI: I went through hundreds of pages of the Leveson review so you don't have to, and put it in context here

We at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have coordinated a letter in @thetimes.com today in which numerous individuals and organisations call on the government to withdraw its mistaken rules which are having a serious chilling effect on civil servants speaking in public…

Comparing the change in Starmer's first year to that in similar recent major switches of power, it is clear that significant churn of perm secs in the first year is common www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...

Great comment piece by Nick Timmins for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the 10 Year Health Plan He finds lots of familiar ideas but argues they could be frustrated by familiar problems. Like him, I really worry that plans to better integrate health service will be derailed by structural changes

“In many areas, the Labour government has introduced changes that are necessary and valuable and yet these have not been knitted together in a way that is sufficient to shift public perceptions of change” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/labo...

A reset squandered: the civil service in Labour’s first year Keir Starmer’s “tepid bath of managed decline” jibe soured relations between ministers and officials. Find out how the government has fared on civil service reform over the past 12 months www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/one-...

My latest thoughts on why the characteristics of the 2024 parliament mean the backbench welfare bill rebellion is unlikely to be the last one faced by Keir Starmer www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/parl...

Crises lurk around every corner and with 89 risks set out in grisly detail in the National Risk Register, ministers must prepare for whatever comes We've written about new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk research on ministerial leadership during crises for @thehousemag.bsky.social Read about it 👇

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...

This is an interesting and timely report by the @bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk and the Web Science Institute about how AI could make people’s lives better. Creating transparency and trust are central to achieving this potential. www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/blog/ai-for-...

It really is very hard to reconcile "teams will leave their desks behind and work on the ground with communities" (Cabinet Office / Georgia Gould announcement last week) with a diktat that bans officials from speaking at events with a Q&A.

No10 has issued odd internal guidance banning officials speaking at public events It means more closed govt & worse policy decisions-the opposite of what ministers say they want From @drhannahwhite.bsky.social & me @instituteforgovernment.org.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...