I am just back @instituteforgovernment.org.uk this week from 5 wonderful months of parental leave, just in time for another quiet week in British politics... And I'm back just in time to share a brilliant new report on employment support www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/... 1/5

The extent to which I would much rather be writing about the IfG's new report on employment support (read it! It's really interesting) tomorrow than yet another round of 'man who refuses to do the job of PM properly continues to be bad at it' cannot be overstated.

Has Rachel Reeves rolled the budget pitch? And how did former chancellors manage expectations? Fascinating @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast with @stewartwood.bsky.social Giles Winn @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/rach...

The dramatic rise in prisoners released in error is just one aspect of a collapsing criminal justice system. Read our recent comment from @cassiarowland.bsky.social following today's news of another mistaken prisoner release www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...

There are only three weeks to go until Rachel Reeves delivers her second budget as chancellor. Follow our autumn budget 2025 page for our analysis of the current fiscal context facing the chancellor and how Reeves should approach tax policy making www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/autumn-budge...

What if there was a consensus on the tax reforms the UK needs? What if it was backed by policy experts from think tanks across the political spectrum, from the Adam Smith Institute to the Resolution Foundation? The consensus is real. The question is: will anyone act on it?

and a lot of other things messing up the economy - just all seems a bit -- late?

I'm back on the IfG podcast! Great to welcome @dannyshaw.bsky.social to discuss just a few of the big home affairs stories dominating the news this week - as well as our new report. Have a listen! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/pris...

NEW REPORT Criminal justice is coming apart at the seams. Police, criminal courts & prisons can’t cope with the level of demand and performance keeps spiralling downwards. Early positive steps from the government won't be enough to turn things around www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

While we wait for the second part of our Performance Tracker 2025, join us for the launch of one of our much awaited events of the year. @amberdellar.bsky.social @cassiarowland.bsky.social @jesstud.bsky.social @nuffieldtrust.org.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/labour...

Our #DevoLab2 is happening today! Join us at The Exchange - University of Birmingham to learn how mayors' and strategic authorities' powers can be used to secure and deliver private investment for key regional strategic projects. 🎟️Get your ticket: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...

Guardian article here: www.theguardian.com/politics/202... And top tips on how to do tax reform from @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The point of a multi-year spending review and regular SR cycle is to provide stability. That stability allows frontline public services to make long-term decisions that will deliver better outcomes and VfM. It's a big failure of policymaking if spending decisions are being reopened 4 months later

Flagged in this morning’s Politico Playbook, here’s @tompope.bsky.social’s excellent new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog on Kemi Badenoch’s stamp duty plan - and why the sums don’t quite add up. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

In light of Kemi Badenoch’s pledge to abolish stamp duty, @jillongovt.bsky.social is refreshing our memory with a very useful explainer on Stamp Duty Land Tax: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...

My instant reaction to Badenoch's stamp duty announcement for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Stamp duty is a bad tax. But abolishing it without a broader reform of property taxes would be a missed opportunity and hard to afford. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

🎧NEW: Lessons in Kemistry.. Brilliant Conservative Party conference (& stamp duty) analysis on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social and Patrick English of @yougov.co.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

A the end of last month @instituteforgovernment.org.uk headed to Bournemouth for the Liberal Democrat Party Conference 2025 We held an event in partnership with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social exploring how local places can ensure devolution delivers economic growth, chaired by @tompope.bsky.social

Last week the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk travelled north to Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference 2025. At our event on the Monday, with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social & chaired by @tompope.bsky.social we explored how local places can maximise the benefits of devolution to drive growth

🎧Starmer’s Liverpool Drama? Ex-No10 adviser Tom Webb joins the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast to preview the @teamlabouruk.bsky.social conference (& review @libdems.org.uk conf) With @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Fortunately @jillongovt.bsky.social has just written us an excellent explainer on digital ID cards! Everything you need to know here… www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/di... www.thetimes.com/article/3fed...

NEW REPORT: @instituteforgovernment.org.uk finds that confused missions, pervasive risk aversion, poor data quality, insufficient commericial capability, and a failure to focus on outcomes means that govt is failing to make the most of £400bn+ a year it spends on procurement

Follow our autumn budget 2025 page for more in the lead up to Reeves' second budget as chancellor on Weds 26 November www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/autumn-budge... Follow the team @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social @drbenpaxton.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report by me, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social on how Reeves should approach tax this Autumn With tax rises inevitable, Reeves should reject path of least resistance and embrace tax reform 1/3 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

A deteriorating fiscal outlook since March means Rachel Reeves is likely to need to raise taxes @danhaile.bsky.social and @tompope.bsky.social argue that Rachel Reeves should use the budget to reset her fiscal strategy www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

Maybe its time to repost this @instituteforgovernment.org.uk @theifs.bsky.social Chartered Institute of Taxation report from 2017 (!).. If only.. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

How Number 10's strengthened economics team can work for Keir Starmer @gilesyb.bsky.social identifies four key steps to help No10's new economics team succeed. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/numb...

Very good piece from Meg Hillier on the dangers of political attacks on independent institutions like the OBR on.ft.com/3VV7p5Y The OBR is not to blame for weak growth

Rachel Reeves should use the budget to reset her fiscal strategy A deteriorating fiscal outlook since March means Rachel Reeves is likely to need to raise taxes, argue @danhaile.bsky.social and @tompope.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

Latest from me and @danhaile.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Higher interest rates, a productivity downgrade and policy u-turns mean perhaps a c.£20bn forecast deterioration at budget How should she respond? 1/2 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

This is moving in exactly the wrong direction! Education & meaningful activity in prison is crucial to reducing violence and improving outcomes

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...)

Brilliant panel for this event starting soon. Do follow along online.

TODAY: Delivering the government’s economic growth mission: What is the role of the industrial strategy? Join us live at 12:30 as we explore how the industrial strategy can unlock growth across frontier sectors and the steps required to make it work www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/delive...

Once we make it into the office... 🚉 we'll be back tomorrow with analysis on the, now rather big, reshuffle

Excellent (as ever) sleuthing by Penelope on one of the massive holes in available data in the criminal justice system — in this case yet another on the ‘single justice procedure’, the process for prosecuting low-level offences based on paper submissions, with no court hearing.

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 🧵👇

📰 New (open access) article from me in The MJ Setting out a 5 stage roadmap for Strategic Authorities as they develop local economic strategies www.themj.co.uk/delivering-p...

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

Rachel Reeves should allow local tourist taxes If mayors use the ‘right to request’ to call for tourist taxes, then the government should say yes, say @tompope.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

My take on the Leveson review! Restricting jury trials would cut the case backlog & if you’re going to do it, this is a good model. BUT it isn't necessary. Leveson's argument is based on rising demand - when the real problem is poor productivity. 🧵 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/leve...

This Friday marks one year since the general election. Over the course of this week, the IfG will be reviewing how much progress – or not – the Labour government has made on delivering its priorities.

NEW REPORT: how does access to adult social care vary across time and around England? We show: - Fewer adults receive care than 20 years ago - There is wide range in access between councils Some of that is for good reason, but some not 🧵👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

New report from me & @tompope.bsky.social We explore how strategic authorities can develop effective economic strategies - providing insights for local leaders and officials looking to develop robust strategies & strengthen their local economies www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

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...

Great write up of @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social’s new report which shows local authorities have been forced to ration access to publicly funded care. This has created a damaging geographical and demographic ‘care gap’ Full report here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Great thread from @rebeccamckee.bsky.social on our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk research supported by the University of Surrey. If you're working on local economic strategies or growth plans, please do get in touch. We'd love to chat.

PODCAST 🎙️ The morning after the spending review before Ipsos's Gideon Skinner joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social to weigh up what Rachel Reeves’ spending review told us about the government’s priorities www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

🎙️ The morning after the spending review before… @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social and @gilesyb.bsky.social are joined by Gideon Skinner of @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social to weigh up Rachel Reeves’s choices - and what it says about this government podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...