EVENT | What does the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act mean for children’s social care? 📆Tuesday 12 May 2026, 14:00-15:00 Join us next week as an expert panel explores the next steps for children’s social care reform and new analysis from the Institute for Government.

The restoration & renewal project presents one of the most challenging large-scale restoration projects for the UK Join us next Monday 11 May as our expert panel explores how to take this forward and what it means for people working in parliament and those who will design and deliver the project

Today at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, we publish a brand new set of Ministers Reflect interviews with Steve Baker, Gillian Keegan and Danny Alexander. They discussed what makes for effective ministerial leadership, the challenges of the role and their proudest achievements in post...

What happens when you increase the Irish talent at RF....kudos to @cillian-sheehan.bsky.social for this chart of the week to lighten the mood as beer garden weather finally kicks in.

TODAY | The Peter Mandelson scandal: What are the lessons for Keir Starmer's government? Join us live at 12:30 as @timdurrant.bsky.social @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social explore the fall-out from the vetting and the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins.

There's so much to write about everything that's happening with Mandelson vetting fight (and always happy to explain the process, others have done so v well on here). But the v. aggressive approach from no10 is over the weekend is just so damaging - so have tried to capture some of that

A new report from the IfG published today sets out 4 key lessons for ministers on how they can be effective leaders of public service reform. A thread of our main findings below… www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Nigel Farage has penned an op-ed for the Telegraph pledging to repeal Labour's somekefree generation legislation. Almost a year ago I set out for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk why policy makers should not take continued cross-partisan consensus on anti-smoking legislation for granted.

Senior Reform UK members are reportedly exploring a US-style executive order approach to government. @sirjjkc.bsky.social examines whether government by executive order is a plausible model for the UK www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

Since the government reshuffle in Sept25, the representation of women among cabinet ministers has dropped slightly from 48% to 44% - but remains higher than under any previous prime minister. Ahead of International Women’s Day, here's some insights from our interviews with women who served in govt

This is interesting - on the one hand, makes sense given how much is expected of ministers in the Lords (who don't have a base salary, just an allowance) But I do think this is a failing to be more innovative about what ministers are for... www.politicshome.com/news/article...

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!