On Tuesday 13 January we are going to be hosting Government 2026, our annual conference, which brings together influential speakers and experts to explore the key questions for government in 2026. So what do we have lined up? 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

Entertaining Ashes lessons/parallels from Jill just before she heads south to watch a couple of dead rubbers Perhaps to misquote a bodyline classic, ‘I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to run the government’

If the second story on the News at 10 is a sinkhole, canal boats and no casualties, we’ve got a happy country and world at peace Third and fourth stories, Russian general exploded and Gaza, oh no

Rewiring the state: Is the government making any progress? Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

PODCAST 🎙️ 2025 in review: Starmer's year of drama The IfG team and the FT's @chris-smyth.bsky.social pick out the big moments of the last 12 months – the big political developments, and the key appointments that could shape the year ahead www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Have you ever read the Public Services Performance Tracker published by @instituteforgovernment.org.uk? If so, we’d love to hear from you. We’re surveying readers to find out what is most useful and what we should prioritise next year. It will only take around 5 mins to complete

Cabinet Office in May: We're making the centre smaller. We've approved 540 people to leave through voluntary exits. It will cost £27m. We expect 1200 people to leave over the next two years. Cabinet Office today: we added an extra 695 staff Q3 2025... 👇Follow Dan for the latest civil service stats

Civil service numbers continue to rise. Voluntary and mutually agreed exits not leading to a reduction yet Particularly surprising - Cabinet Office grew by 695. More than half the number of people slated to leave through voluntary exit schemes *added* in just 3 months See Dan’s great charts here

as Trump throws a $ 10bn lawsuit at the BBC, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk picked a good day to discuss the President's impact on communications - with Katy Balls from @thetimes.com @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social - sign up www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/trump-...

Our devolution experts had their Weetabix today @akashpaun.bsky.social @matthewfright.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

PODCAST 🎙️Should the UK do budgets differently? As Reeves is accused of misleading the public, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss how well the UK does budgets. PLUS Lammy's judge-only trials plans www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

But the cost is not the only question govt needs to answer to make this scheme work. Following our panel with @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @matthewfeeney.bsky.social @morganwild.bsky.social & Sir David Normington, I highlight some qs for govt: (4/4) www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

The govt appears committed to driving forward digital IDs - the responsibility for the scheme now sits in the Cabinet Office, led by Darren Jones, and was described by Liz Kendall in the science, innovation and technology committee today as one of the PM's "top priorities" (1/4)

This isn't unique to the covid inquiry but it does highlight some key issues - this lunchtime I'll be joined by an excellent panel to discuss the covid inquiry & whether inquiries are a good way for the government to learn lessons www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

New from @alexgathomas.bsky.social and I on the missed opportunity of the covid inquiry's module 2 report to dig deeper into how decisions were made in government during the pandemic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...

Here’s a new piece from @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and me on how the Covid Inquiry’s second module missed the opportunity to really dig into how decisions were made in the heart of government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...

[personal news, cough] Very excited to be taking up this new role @instituteforgovernment.org.uk alongside brilliant colleagues I love working for the IfG and have enjoyed every minutes of my nearly six years (can’t believe it) here Can’t wait to get stuck into the new job in Jan

While I was offline I reviewed Baroness Hale of Richmond's newest book. It's actually very good! I'm going soft. Free link here @ www.thetimes.com/article/6dd6...

Big parliamentary winner today imho: Nus Ghani Channelling Betty Boothroyd, authority with humour. Much needed in the HoC

Want instant expert analysis of Rachel Reeves' 2025 autumn budget? Then tune in live at 16:00 to hear from @danhaile.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social 📺 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/autumn...

Novel but thought-provoking budget commentary

If one person says it’s raining, another says it’s not, you look out of the window. And if you see a Qatari jet given to a government, and a lot of other stuff, then…

In a new departure, we @instituteforgovernment.org.uk are going to be live blogging the Budget all through tomorrow. The live blog is now live and we will be sharing our pre-Budget thoughts there, followed by responses once we hear the CX's speech www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...

Who’d have thunk it? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/trum...

It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own

TOMORROW | The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance? Join us at 12:30 as @timdurrant.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social unpack the inquiry's findings www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/covid-...

Just us GALS

New cabinet committees announced today - here’s @hannahkeenan.bsky.social take ⬇️

Brilliant

“It would be good to think that Sir Keir read the Institute for Government’s March 2024 report on reforming the centre of government. His failure to grip these issues last July or since suggests he did not.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Answer is to de-duplicate in the centre, restore coherence and authority. Have big figures who can crack heads together and are able to pursue govt’s agenda

Good

I don’t think it’s the write-round system that’s the main problem. Sure, speed it up, but write-rounds can be signed off in hours (or 30 minutes I think was my fastest). By all means do that. But our constitution does require collective cabinet sign-off and that needs to be managed somehow

Struck by BBC DG & cabinet secretary parallels Both high scrutiny Both two jobs bolted together (DG editor-in-chief & CEO, cab sec main adviser to PM & head of the civil service) Both kept together because a perceived need for one top person Different parts of both jobs need v different skills

PODCAST 🎙️ Keir Starmer’s government: Traitors or Faithfuls? What do the media briefings against Wes Streeting say about how No.10 is working – or not? @cathhaddon.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social discuss www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

I think the most important words in this story are “Retaking this decision should not be taken as an indication that government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fast streamers and those interested in the fast stream and civil service recruitment - come to @instituteforgovernment.org.uk next week!

The BBC is surely big enough, strong enough, credible enough, respected enough, reflective enough, has wide enough reach and a strong enough history to stand up for itself, while acknowledging room to improve. And never kowtowing or denying facts

I know BBC coverage of the BBC is always ‘Jacobs by Marc Jacobs by Jacobs’… but on days like today I think the news / management separation is clear, admirable, important and unusual

Goodness me this is wonderful. Think I’ll have to read at least twice more on.ft.com/47M4tyi Bridget Riley: ‘I want my paintings to make people feel alive’

📸Snapshots | Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government? A big thank you to our panel: Atul Devani, John-Paul Marks CB, Baroness Gisela Stuart and @alexgathomas.bsky.social Watch back the event www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/leader...

WEBINAR | The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance? Join our IfG experts webinar to unpack the Covid Inquiry's findings and explore their implications for future governance. 🎟️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/covid-...

“These are not the actions of mature adults. They are examples of crude people displaying their incompetence as they flail about in jobs—including the presidency—for which they are not qualified.”

Our event Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government? is happening today! Join us in person or online: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/leader...

The Cabinet Office has relaxed the rules on civil servants speaking in public. The government is still too defensive about who can speak, but this is a positive step, say @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @drhannahwhite.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...

Inexplicable why the UK govt and associated accounts are still Twittering. On our podcast I mentioned Musk as a wannabe enemy of the state here bsky.app/profile/inst...

NEW: Home Office truths The Home Secretary says Home Office is not fit for purpose So what’s the problem/solution? 🎧Today’s @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast with @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social & ex spad Hannah Guerin www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

PODCAST 🎙️ Home Office truths with Shabana Mahmood Hannah Guerin joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social to explore one of Whitehall’s most challenging departments. Plus: Kruger's govt reform plans, and Labour’s historic poll low www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Great to team up with @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social to find out what the public think about the civil service www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...