NEW IfG verdict on the child poverty strategy from me and @amberdellar.bsky.social A critical package for the govt, but it needs: - stronger powers/accountability in DWP to lead it - much more robust support for LAs - earlier monitoring/evaluation www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/chil...

🎄 🎶Four mayors delayed, three ministers reflect and a House of Lords battle renewed 🎶 🎄 @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @jackpannell.bsky.social and @rebeccamckee.bsky.social on this week’s Inside Briefing podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

There’s a lot of ways you could answer this question, but am going to contribute this, written a couple of years ago, as one answer www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...

PODCAST 🎙️ Four mayors delayed, three ministers reflect, and a House of Lords battle renewed @drhannahwhite.bsky.social is in the studio with @akashpaun.bsky.social @rebeccamckee.bsky.social @jackpannell.bsky.social Listen to the Inside Briefing 🎧 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

2026 is set to be a hugely significant year for Keir Starmer’s government and British politics. So what are the big questions facing government? Join us on Tuesday 13 November for Government 2026, our annual conference. Register to attend online www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

NEW | Civil servants face various challenges when working to compressed timeframes. Our report, Rapid policy making, sets out practical recommendations for how they can be better supported to deliver robust advice at pace www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Excited to publish our latest batch of Ministers Reflect interviews! We spoke with former health secretary and chancellor Sajid Javid, former Wales secretary and chief whip Simon Hart, and former Defra secretary Theresa Villiers. Some highlights… www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-re...

This should be a great event... What can govt communicators do when Trump blows up their grid on a daily basis. Have we now normalised ignoring facts and is politics just performance art? Does our system of government have any protections if someone followed populist playbook?

Report | Learning from the DevoLab #1: How devolution can address health inequalities This policy briefing presents three short case studies of how devolved powers have been used to address health inequalities. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

WEBINAR | The Trump challenge: Chaos, confusion and government communications @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and @simonbaugh.bsky.social will join us to discuss the impact of Trump’s unpredictable approach to facts, accuracy and communication. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/trump-...

EVENT | In conversation with Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales @prifweinidog.gov.wales joins us to discuss her priorities as First Minister, relations with Westminster, the 2026 Senedd election and the future of devolution. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/conver...

EVENT | How can changes to NHS structures help deliver the 10 Year Health Plan? 🔍 Big NHS shake-up ahead. With NHSE gone and ICBs merging, can the new structure actually work? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/nhs-st...

EVENT | How can the government make a success of the abolition of NHS England? This webinar will explore the risks and opportunities associated with abolishing NHS England and how much progress has been made to date. @nuffieldtrust.org.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

A strong OBR is in everyone’s interests Replacing Richard Hughes with someone seen as more compliant to the government’s views would undermine the OBR's independence, bringing a high cost to government and the country, says @gemmatetlow.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/stro...

Great new piece from @akashpaun.bsky.social on the decision to delay next year’s mayoral elections. “even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...

NEW 🚨 Today we have launched three new #MinistersReflect with former chancellor Sajid Javid, former chief whip Simon Hart and former Defra secretary Theresa Villiers about their time in the May, Johnson and Sunak governments. Read their interviews www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-re...

Abolished to perfection? Building a better centre for the NHS The abolition of NHS England creates both risks and opportunities. Our report with @nuffieldtrust.org.uk identifies five key factors in whether the process will be a success www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

2026 is set to be a hugely significant year for Keir Starmer’s government and British politics. Join us on Tuesday 13 Jan for our one-day conference on what government is doing well – and what it could be doing better. Register to attend online 📅 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

The Covid Inquiry shows the importance of ministerial leadership during crises Clarity of priorities, clear messaging and visible leadership are paramount in any crisis. @sophiedaud.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

The government's decision to delay the 2026 mayoral elections in DPP areas is truly baffling and v disappointing Excellent analysis in this from @matthewfright.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

New comment from me and @sophiedaud.bsky.social discussing the valuable work of minsters' private office, the need for more support AND launching our private office induction workshops The first workshop is 18th December, more details on our website www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

I know it's barely even December, but what are you doing on 13 January? That's right, joining the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk annual conference! Check out all the details here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

The government still has questions to answer on digital IDs @hcdunlop.bsky.social considers what the government needs to do to move its plans forward www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

WEBINAR | The Trump challenge: Chaos, confusion and government communications Join @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and @simonbaugh.bsky.social to discuss the impact of Trump’s unpredictable approach to facts, accuracy and communication. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/trump-...

The 'clogging up' of A+Es is not due to the 2% of people coming to ED with this quite arbitrary list of conditions. The main reason they're clogged is poor flow through hospitals! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

PODCAST 🎙️ The chair of the OBR has gone, the chancellor is being accused of misleading the public. So how did that budget go – and should the UK do budgets differently? The IfG team are in the studio to discuss. PLUS: Lammy's judge-only trial plans www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

I really enjoyed this panel yesterday so interesting to hear from Tom Walker and Mayor Claire Ward in two areas that are forging ahead There's lots to learn from the different approaches in different places, always fascinating to be part of that conversation. Thanks to @uniofsurrey.bsky.social !

This is an interesting piece. Analysis we've done support some of the findings First, staff absences are higher on average in trusts that serve more deprived populations, and the effect is larger for mental health absences than for other conditions

1/ At the IfG, we have been following the government’s announcements on digital ID closely. Last month, we were joined by an expert panel to discuss the potential opportunities and challenges of implementing the policy. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

David Lammy’s proposals for judge-only trials would make England and Wales an outlier www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/davi...

Government 2026: IfG's annual conference 🚨 Join us on Tuesday 13 January as we bring together influential speakers to explore the key questions for government over the next 12 months. Register to attend online 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern... With @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social

The Covid Inquiry has missed vital lessons on how to make better decisions We have not learnt much that is new from the inquiry’s Module Two report, say @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...

In my Budget chat for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk I flatteringly compared it to a complex artwork you must spend hours with to see all the details www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/offi... The work of the OfVFM provides an example: @drbenpaxton.bsky.social explains why it is good.

Due tune in now!

There's less than a week left to apply to join our team as a Partnerships Manager. Applications will close on Monday 8 December at 11:00. Find out more about the role www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Two events coming up this week. Tomorrow, @jimreedbbc.bsky.social joins our panel discussing the lessons coming out of the covid inquiry module 2 and what it says about how well inquiries help govt learn lessons

NEW REPORT: abolishing NHS England could help simplify accountability, improve prioritisation and create savings. But the change could also lead to increases in policy incoherence and blame culture, as well as the loss of skills, capacity and focus on areas outside the day-to-day NHS.

Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II What does the report tell us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...

Autumn budget 2025 | After months of ominous warnings about the state of the economy and tax rises the story of the budget turned out to be rather different. IfG experts review the key things we learnt from the 2025 budget. Read the comment here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/autu...

David Lammy’s proposals for judge-only trials would make England and Wales an outlier. It would increase the risk of miscarriages of justice and further undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system, argues @cassiarowland.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/david-lammy-...

The EU reset seemed to hit some buffers over - surprise, surprise - money at the weekend. Listen to our top panellists at our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk @ukandeu.bsky.social event dissect progress and pitfalls 10 days ago www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/six-mo...

New funding plans will give mayors more autonomy to boost growth The chancellor's budget announcements are important steps on the government’s journey to ‘complete the map’ of English devolution www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/autu...

Devolving growth: What are the challenges and opportunities for new strategic authorities? Join us for our event on how new strategic authorities can develop effective local economic strategies @rebeccamckee.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social 🎟️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devolv...

Are you an accomplished communicator with a strong track record in sales, business development, or fundraising? We are looking for a Partnerships Manager to join our team. Applications close on Monday 8 December, 11:00 ⏰ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

EVENT | Devolving growth: What are the challenges and opportunities for new strategic authorities? 📅 Wednesday 3 December, 11:00-12:00 Join us as we explore how new strategic authorities can deliver local economic growth www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devolv...

Economic and fiscal forecasts are a critical part of the government budget process. But what data and assumptions go into them? Read our latest explainer on OBR forecasts www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/of...

Work with us! 🚨 We are looking for a Partnerships Manager to lead the business function within our partnerships team. ⏰ Applications close on Monday 8 December at 11:00. Find out more about the role and how to apply www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Next week! @jimreedbbc.bsky.social is joining us at the IfG to discuss the lessons from the second Covid Inquiry report and what it means for how future governments approach crisis management. @rebeccamckee.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social 🎟️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

Although the main focus of yesterday's budget was on tax and welfare changes, most of which apply UK-wide, there were some specific spending announcements that have implications for the devolved nations, both through Barnett and direct investment.⬇️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...

Autumn budget 2025: What did we learn from Rachel Reeves’ announcements? From tax rises to OBR forecasts and cost of living, our IfG experts give their verdict on the chancellor’s plans www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/autu...