Govt’s proposed SEND reforms contain positive ideas to move the system towards early intervention. But there are tensions the govt has not yet worked through between investing in these changes quickly and ensuring reforms are fully evidenced.

Cabinet secretaries A 110 year old job. A lot of variation in how past holders have done the job. A lot of debate about whether the job is even doable now. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ca...

Short comment from me about SEND reform: Legal rights are a much-relied-upon safeguard in the SEND system, but they can complicate efforts to make education more inclusive. Govt must acknowledge and carefully navigate that tension, with parents and other stakeholders

I spoke at the House of Lords Justice & Home Affairs Committee yesterday, on behalf of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, on immigration, citizenship and integration. Thanks to @jlowen.bsky.social, @cassiarowland.bsky.social and @hcdunlop.bsky.social for help on prep! Session here: tinyurl.com/372h6jdk

Starting shortly - tune in to hear about Darren Jones's plans for rewiring the state

Busy day ahead! Also incudes @darrenpjones.bsky.social setting out his plans to shake up Whitehall and renew the state. Watch on the link below at 11.30 Follow @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @hannahkeenan.bsky.social for some instant reaction. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/modern...

We are really pleased to announce that our Government 2026 annual conference at the IfG will kick start with a keynote speech by Wes Streeting at 8:30am. He will be in conversation with @drhannahwhite.bsky.social Join us online: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

‼️Not to miss‼️In conversation with Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister The PM's Chief Secretary will set out the changes being made to the centre of Whitehall to enable the government to drive action more quickly in 2026. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

New to Bluesky? Or just interested in the workings of government in the UK? Check out our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk starter pack here - find all my fantastic colleagues and follow for their insight and analysis go.bsky.app/P7JZCH

📝Our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report with @jackpannell.bsky.social & @emmanorris.bsky.social out today sets out out the underlying problems with the way public inquiries are established We argue ministers need better support to make informed decisions about how an inquiry should be set up

The updated Governance Code for Public Appointments is a major step forward - good to see many previous IfG recommendations taken on board. There is more to do, however, as shown by recent antics at DCMS. My and @drmatthewgill.bsky.social 's thoughts below👇

Last week at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, we published a new set of Ministers Reflect interviews with Sajid Javid, Simon Hart and Theresa Villiers. My comment piece below explores the key lessons Starmer's govt can take from these reflections. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/less...

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...

1/ Last month, the government released a new list of its parliamentary private secretaries and cabinet committees following September’s reshuffle. Our explainers are updated with the new numbers! Here are some key takeaways from the releases…

As bad as your day might be, it could be worse, you could be the person who accidentally published the OBR's budget document a couple of hours early: obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...

Pleased to have written an op-ed for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social outlining some of the lessons from our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report, Ministers Reflect on the Treasury. www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...

Rachel Reeves told the FT how helpful she's found Jeremy Hunt's advice on being chancellor - I wonder if this is one of the things they've discussed? From the great new IfG report from Shaina and Paddy - essential reading ahead of the Budget! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

New paper, 'Ministers reflect on the Treasury' from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social and me for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Pre-budget, we've compiled insights from 10 years of Ministers Reflect interviews, plus rex from the IfG catalogue on HMT. Favourite quotes to follow! 1/🧵 tinyurl.com/38anhkc7

NEW | Ministers Reflect on the Treasury Drawing on over a decade of interviews with over 150 ministers, our new report explores the Treasury’s role and the tensions it creates across Whitehall www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

As the covid inquiry gears up for Module 9 on economic policy, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and I have a new @ukri.org-funded @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report out on Epi-econ modelling for pandemics. We set out why govt needs to invest now 1/🧵 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

New data shows 40% of 19 to 21 year-old care leavers were not in employment, education or training in March this year (15,000 young people). For all 19 to 21 year-olds, that figure is estimated at 15%.

This is really part of a longer story about the ONS, and the picture we have (or don't) of the state and society. The move from International Passenger Surveys to DWP data should improve our understanding of what Brits are doing at least.

Come join us next Monday for a conversation about all things fast stream!

Are you interested in the fast stream’s role in the wider civil service recruitment ecosystem, and what the future fast stream reform efforts focus on? Join us next Monday for our event How can the fast stream deliver more for the civil service? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/civil-...

NEW REPORT Labour is struggling to meet its education priorities. It has big ambitions to improve schools, but a budget that falls short of matching them. And with no clear plans to reform the SEND system or tackle workforce shortages, children are being left without the support they need.

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment from me The chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry last week highlights much deeper problems with the way the government sets up public inquiries www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/groo...

4 patterns we're seeing in adult social care, children's social care and homelessness services (with graphs) And what govt should do about it A thread from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's NEW jumbo report (read 1 get 3 free) on the state of local government services and finance 👇

PSA: We have a new (and long) @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer out on the immigration and asylum policies of the major parties (of England...) following a flurry of announcements all year and around conference season, in particular. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/im...

The government has established its new ethics regulator, the Ethics and Integrity Commission. So what will the commission do? What are its responsibilities? And what other changes have the government made to the ethics and standards system? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/et...

As the new Ethics and Integrity Commission launches today, our explainer sets out what the commission looks like and what it will do www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/et...

We have an updated ministerial code! The new code makes clear that ministers "are expected" to pay back any severance payment if they quickly get a new ministerial job or are found to have broken the rules on post-government jobs www.gov.uk/government/p...

What day is it? That's right, it's Day 2 ("containment") of Exercise Pegasus, the "largest ever simulation of a pandemic in UK history" - right now, teams in the NHS, govt depts and others are testing their approach to dealing with a possible future pandemic... hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...

On Friday evening we officially welcomed our newest members of the Fellowship of Queens'. Their admission took place in our beautiful chapel and they were welcomed in by our President, Dame Menna Rawlings. Many congratulations and welcome to Queens'.💚

So after promising to cut "wasteful spending" and council tax Reform has: - Found no waste and instead plans to cut invest-to-save schemes - Will now raise council tax by the full 5% - Realised they don't control asylum spending A staggering amount of failure in 5 months

The govt published its strategy to revitalise local communities last week There is a heavy focus on directing funding to high streets and community spaces, which is part of the reason for declining "pride in place" But it seems misguided for a few reasons Short thread www.gov.uk/government/p...

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.

This interview is so much worse than the headline lets on

2025 reshuffle: That's a wrap! Who's who in Starmer's cabinet 2.0 and what are the seven things we've learned? @timdurrant.bsky.social , @philipnye.bsky.social, @rebeccamckee.bsky.social , @jackpannell.bsky.social @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

Angela Rayner's resignation on Friday means that a contest to replace her as deputy leader of the Labour Party has started. Read my first explainer at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk to find out how the process will work, who is running, and when will we find out who Rayner's successor will be!

Thanks to @jackpannell.bsky.social for putting these together. Follow the rest of the team @timdurrant.bsky.social @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social & others at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk for more post-shuffle analysis And keep an eye on the live blog www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

Fascinating analysis from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog of the new ministers: 14 of the 19 new MPs in their first ministerial role were previously parliamentary private secretaries www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

What happened with ministerial changes over the weekend? @instituteforgovernment.org.uk has kept an eye on it - there are *62* ministers in new roles, meaning around half the government are in a new role today Keep an eye on our analysis here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

This reshuffle is far bigger than initially expected! Its impacts will reverberate for some time - but at least Starmer can finally say he seized the spotlight from Reform UK For @instituteforgovernment.org.uk analysis 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

LIVEBLOG! We've fired up the IfG reshuffle liveblog. Essential for all the latest information as Keir Starmer reshapes his team. Packed with data, charts, details and analysis about all the ministerial moves. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

And we're off! The @instituteforgovernment.org.uk reshuffle live blog is now live, stay with us for updates and analysis from IfG colleagues on Starmer's first government reshuffle. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

So reshuffles. Departures always come first. PM usually goes to Palace of Westminster to do those. Appointments later. We did an incredibly detailed insider podcast on it all only a few weeks ago that is worth a listen as you await further news podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

While all eyes have been on Angela Rayner's big announcement, she was not the only minister to go - reports are that Poppy Gustafsson has resigned as UK investment minister meaning 11 ministers have officially resigned (and 1 has been sacked) from the government since the GE

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.

We may find out today whether Sir Laurie Magnus concludes that Angela Rayner has broken the ministerial code. But what happens then? While this is a big test of Labour's bolstered ethics system, ultimately these things are all about the politics: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ange...

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: