DevoLab is heading to Sheffield. Join us on 2 July to explore how mayors and local leaders can create a shared vision for growth. The event brings together themes from across the series. We'll discuss not just what it takes to set a vision, but to embed it across a region and sustain it over time.

We covered some of these issues in our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event with RIBA. Our expert panel explored how parliament should approach the project and lessons from other countries and industry. Available to watch and listen to now 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-n...

Once again (and yes, there is other news now), I have had some thoughts on WhatsApp in government:

Using WhatsApp in government should come with clear responsibilities The use of WhatsApp is embedded in the way government works, but ministers need to do more to ensure they use it well. Read the latest comment from @timdurrant.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/usin...

We've been looking at a very specific part of the situation in Belfast - what ministers need to do in these sorts of crises, and why it's important to recognise the specific context and of Northern Ireland.

Love this as a prevention case study: - Low cost, even revenue raising in the short term - Improves health outcomes and reduces costly hospital admissions Shows political leadership is key: - Politically costly for Khan to implement - Did it despite cost savings landing outside GLA

THE CHART has been updated.

From Haigh to Healey - two years of ministerial resignations in one table

Defence secretary John Healey has just resigned over the govt's Defence Investment Plan, writing that it "falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time". We're getting our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk resignation chart fired back up..

What can ministers learn from their predecessors' work with the civil service? Our paper draws on the IfG's Ministers Reflect archive to share lessons from former ministers on how to get the most out of working with the civil service: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

A short piece from me in Civil Service World this week outlining the key arguments from mine and @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social's new paper on the relationship between ministers and the civil service. We draw on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's fantastic Ministers Reflect archive... Read below!

I've spent a lot of time thinking about this conundrum and, about a decade ago, ran a small cross-party programme on tech literacy for MPs. A quick 🧵 about why MPs know so little about tech.

Excellent new piece by @meganbryer.bsky.social on a new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report on relationships between ministers and the civil service - drawing on our extensive Ministers Reflect archive of interviews and IfG recommendations Lessons for both ministers and the civil service

ICYMI: Great thread from Megan looking at her and @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social's latest paper from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, on what ministers have told us about their views on the civil service

EVENT | How can government close the early years attainment gap for boys from low-income families? 📅Thursday 18 June 2026, 12:30-13:30 Join us as we explore how government can better serve children at risk of being ‘left behind’ in their earliest years.

Great to be up in Edinburgh at Prosper Forum 26 - looking forward to hearing what the FM has to say about his government’s objectives

Really interesting insights from Harriet on how the local election results will affect how mayoral authorities work:

EVENT | Lessons from Covid: How to avoid fraud in future crises? 📅Thursday 11 June 2026, 12:30-13:30 Join us as we put together an expert panel to explore what government should do to ensure more robust checks and balances ahead of the next crisis.

Catching up after two weeks away (travelling round France, didn't crash the hire car, yes it was very hot, had a lovely time, thanks for asking) and there's lots to catch up on from my fab @instituteforgovernment.org.uk colleagues...

Inbox (almost) zero, out of office on, apps deleted - I'm off for 2 weeks! Where will government be by then...? Tune in to this fab event on Tues, and follow @rebeccamckee.bsky.social, @meganbryer.bsky.social and @philipnye.bsky.social for our analysis on ministerial and parliamentary shenanigans!

Delighted to be joining this fantastic panel at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk next Monday. Lots of important points to discuss.

EVENT | Chaos returns to Westminster: What next for Keir Starmer and the government? 📅Tuesday 19 May, 10:00-11:00 Join us as resignations, revolt and uncertainty shake Starmer's leadership. Our expert panel is on hand to brief you on what an explosive week in Westminster means for the government.

Huge (but very readable) round-up of a big week for the government - what was in the King's speech, and what happens now (particularly given there's been at least one key departure!)?

As the UK government wobbles, the one at the other end of the M4 is getting set up - yesterday Welsh ministers were approved by the Senedd. Ahead of the election, we set out the mistakes they needed to avoid as they took office www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/new-...

PODCAST 🎙️ Starmer, Streeting and the fight for No.10 @claire-ainsley.bsky.social joins the podcast team to discuss whether the PM can reassert his authority and how a leadership contest could play out. PLUS: What stood out in the King's Speech? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Health secretary Wes Streeting has just resigned from government, writing in his resignation letter that he has lost confidence in the PM - "where we need vision, we have vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift". We're live updating our chart here at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Please listen to @timdurrant.bsky.social on this splendid @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast about how governing is about choosing between often unsavoury alternatives - and sticking to the choice! pca.st/episode/7104...

And because it's always nicer to visualise things - this handy chart compares this King's Speech with others back to 1997. It's a big one, especially as it's not this government's first parliamentary session.

4 quick thoughts on the King's Speech 1) It's BIG - 37 bills in the background briefing including carried over and draft bills Very unusual for a second parliamentary session - it's very unlikely all of these will end up on the statute book by the end of the session

In the King's Speech, it was announced that the government will bring forward proposals to strengthen and improve the civil service. @alexgathomas.bsky.social says this is a huge moment for government reform. 📖 Read our view on how to achieve this www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Really exciting news in the King’s Speech - delighted to see the govt adopting our ideas to legislate to strengthen and improve the civil service. Amid the political turbulence this should be a massive moment for government reform

Looking forward to this - discussing what we can learn about PMBs from the recent failed passage of the assisted dying bill.

The PM (well, the King, as if he wasn't busy enough today) has appointed new ministers to fill the gaps created by yesterday's resignations. I wonder whether Natalie Fleet negotiated any commitments out of the PM, given how damning Jess Phillips' letter was on lack of action from No10...

On the timing of the King’s Speech: arranging it for after the local and Scottish and Welsh elections gave the opportunity of doing (another) government ‘reset’. But it also very obviously created the risk that it would happen at a politically tricky time.

Yesterday, an expert panel explored how parliament should approach the major restoration project, including lessons from other countries and industry. You can watch or listen back on our website: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-n...

Re-upping this because i saw on the other place someone going down the 'but could they use a King's Speech defeat to oust him?'. Again, to reiterate, endlessly, a confidence defeat in the Commons means either the government *as a whole* is ousted. Not just the PM.

Follow @meganbryer.bsky.social for updates on any ministerial resignations and spare a thought for her as she keeps the IfG resignations chart up to date...

Well, we're probably getting a new head of government today - in Cardiff, where the Senedd has just appointed its Presiding Officer and Deputy, and presumably will now vote through the appointment of the First Minister

Great shout out too for the impact of our public services performance tracker.

Friends have started messaging to ask if the tracker is back yet. I’m afraid it is…

As more ministers resign from Keir Starmer's government, follow @meganbryer.bsky.social for all the latest IfG analysis.

They're live-updating The Chart.

Alex Davies-Jones (minister for victims and tackling violence against women and girls) becomes the third minister to resign from government today, citing the "catastrophic" electoral defeats last week in her resignation letter and urging the prime minister to set out a timetable for his departure.

Follow Megan for all the latest - if we get more ministerial resignations, she'll have the details!

Also: Can you delay it? Technically yes, by extending prorogation. But that would delay Parliament resuming and would probably look worse than the awks of having it. Plus, for how long? A whole leadership contest?? No that wouldn't work.

Another memory of the Brexit political wars is back - the IfG graph on ministerial resignations, with Johnson and May still leading. Aside from all the drama, the quick overturn of UK ministers is one of the problems of recent years also in establishing networks with allies in Europe.

Follow Megan for all the latest on ministerial resignations - she'll be keeping our chart up to date if any more people go today...

Great work from @meganbryer.bsky.social updating our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk ministerial resignation chart with Miatta Fahnbulleh's decision You can see our full list of resignations since 1979 here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

TOMORROW | What does the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act mean for children’s social care? Join us at 14:00 to hear @amberdellar.bsky.social, Josh MacAlister MP and Rachael Wardell explore the next steps for children’s social care reform www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/childr...