IfG Events

David Blunkett was one of the most reforming ministers of the New Labour government. The former home secretary, education secretary and work and pensions secretary has led major government departments, attempted to drive through public service reform, and seen what prime ministers need to do to drive through change. So what does he make of Keir Starmer’s plans for reform? How does he rate this Labour government’s efforts so far? And what are his lessons – and warnings – for the prime ministers and his team?

Lord Blunkett explored all these questions and more in a fascinating ‘in conversation’ event with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

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Dissatisfaction with public services was a key reason for the Conservative defeat in the general election. How can the new party leader and frontbench regain public trust for running public services? What are the key elements of a distinctive Conservative vision for public services? How should the Conservative Party balance demands for higher public service spending and lower taxation? 

• Steve Brine, former Chair of Health and Social Care Committee
• Rt Hon David Gauke, former Secretary of State for Justice
• Rt Hon Baroness Nicky Morgan, former Secretary of State for Education

This session was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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The new government faces an extremely challenging inheritance in the criminal justice system. How can trust in the police and charging rates be improved? How can criminal court backlogs be tackled? How can government improve conditions and capacity in prisons? How can individual criminal justice services work together more effectively? And does the new government have a plan to address these challenges?

• Dr Karen Schucan Bird, Associate Professor at the UCL Social Research Institute
• Penelope Gibbs, Director of Transform Justice 
• Lord Timpson OBE, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending

This session was chaired by Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

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How can NHS backlogs be tackled and waiting times improved? What are the prospects for adult social care reform in this parliament? How can government ensure health and care services have sufficient workforces? Do health and care services have sufficient funding and is existing funding used effectively? To what extent can and should health services focus more on prevention? And to what extent do the government’s proposals address these challenges?

• Dr Becks Fisher, Director of Research and Policy at Nuffield Trust
• Professor Naomi Fulop, Professor of Health Care Organisation and Management at the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care 
• Preet Gill MP, former Shadow Minister for Primary Care and Public Health
• Dame Una O'Brien, former Permanent Secretary in the Department of Health 

This session was chaired by Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

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From its creation in 1997 to its merger with the Foreign Office in 2020, the Department for International Development (DfID) managed nearly £200 billion in total and played a global leadership role in reducing poverty. While DfID also had to deal with high-profile failures and public criticism, sustained political support from Labour, coalition and Conservative governments helped the department to achieve a record of delivery during its 23-year existence.

A new book, The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development, will be published in October. Sir Mark Lowcock, the book's co-author with Ranil Dissanayake, joined an expert panel at the Institute for Government to discuss what we can learn from DfID's history, with a particular focus on building the institution, how to maintain civil service capability, targeting resources and developing ways to measure value for money – with essential lessons for the new Labour government and what other departments can learn from DfID's focus on delivery.

Joining Sir Mark Lowcock on the panel were:

Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development Select Committee

Andrew Mitchell MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary and former Secretary of State for International Development

The panel was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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The government has promised to restore the target to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. The zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate also requires that 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain will have to be zero emission by 2030. However, car makers have expressed concerns about their ability to hit these targets without further support, and the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) is lagging behind the government target. So what are the barriers to EV uptake?

Charging infrastructure is one reason consumers hesitate to make the switch, with a lack of on-street charging, bottlenecks with motorway charging, as well as concerns about price differential and different rates of VAT for on- and off-street parking. More also needs to be done to ensure the electricity network can cope with demand, and that charge points can be easily and cheaply connected to the grid.

So what could be done to accelerate the rollout of EV charging infrastructure? How does the new government plan to address these challenges? And where in the country are these problems most acute?

To discuss these questions and more, our panel included:

Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Future of Roads)

Rosa Hodgkin, Researcher at the Institute for Government

Ian Howells, Executive Vice President of Honda Motor Europe

Bharat Pathania, Head of New Technologies at Midlands Connect

This event was chaired by Nehal Davison, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Honda for kindly supporting this event.

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Wes Streeting, the health secretary, joined IfG director Hannah White for fascinating and wide-ranging discussion on his role and priorities, the challenges facing the health service, and how the government plans to turn around performance levels in the NHS.

This joint IfG/New Statesman event was recorded at the Labour party conference in Liverpool.

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Labour’s first 100 days in power have been marked by reports of conflict, dysfunction and delay at the centre of government. Sue Gray’s short tenure as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has come to an end, with the prime minister choosing to reset his No.10 team just months after Labour won the general election.

What reforms are needed to radically improve the centre of UK government? What does Morgan McSweeney – Starmer’s new chief of staff – need to do to make No.10 work for the prime minister and deliver for the country? What lessons should Starmer take from the way former PMs ran their centres of government – and from those who tried to reset their No.10?

To answer these questions and more were:

• Tom Baldwin, author of Keir Starmer: The Biography and Labour’s Director of Communications (2010–15)
• Theo Bertram, Director of the Social Market Foundation and a former Special Adviser in No.10
• Henry Newman, former Special Adviser at the Cabinet Office and in No.10 
• Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government and Chair of the Commission on the Centre of Government

The panel was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

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Theresa May’s government set the UK’s net zero target and thhe UK has made significant progress in decarbonising its power supply under successive Conservative governments. However, the last parliament saw concerns raised by Conservative MPs about the potential costs of net zero. and the issue becoming increasingly politicised. In the context of Labour’s ambitious plans for clean power by 2030, how could the new Conservative opposition approach energy policy and net zero and constructively challenge the new Labour government on its plans? 

Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Sam Hall, Director of the Conservative Environment Network

Rosa Hodgkin, Researcher at the Institute for Government

Professor Karl Whittle, Professor of Zero Carbon and Nuclear Energy at the University of Liverpool

This event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with The Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool.

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From David Cameron to Rishi Sunak, prime ministers have been frustrated by policy resource and political energy being spent on reactive decisions rather than dedicated to resolving the chronic problems facing government. So, what can be done differently? This event explored how prime ministers can lead better from the centre and deliver manifesto promises that address issues over the course of the next parliament and beyond.  

Rt Hon John Glen MP, Shadow Paymaster General

The Lord Norton of Louth, Conservative Peer and Professor of Government at the University of Hull

Kartina Tahir Thomson, President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

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After 14 years in power, the Conservative party suffered a historic defeat at the 2024 general election. With the party now in opposition and set to choose its next leader, what lessons should the Conservatives take from their time in government? Did the party fail to deliver on key pledges – and, if so, why? Which parts of government worked well under the last Conservative government – and which did not? Where did the electorate feel let down by the Conservative party and why? Which departments delivered – and how could future Conservative ministers best learn from these experiences?

Speakers:

Rt Hon Damian Green, former First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

Joe Twyman, Co-Founder and Director of Deltapoll

Henry Newman, former Special Adviser at No10 and the Cabinet Office

This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government.

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A combination of poor public service performance and tight funding for the foreseeable future means boosting productivity – which fell both during and after the pandemic – will remain high on the agenda. The last Conservative government launched a Public Sector Productivity Programme in June 2023 , but what would a future Conservative government do to fix these issues? And how realistic is the hope of delivering better services for less?

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, former Cabinet Office and Treasury minister

Dan Butler, Head of Government Affairs at Google Cloud UK

Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Professor Mark Thompson, Professor of Digital Economy at the University of Exeter

This event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Google Cloud UK and the University of Exeter.

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Years of low but volatile capital spending have left public services across the country struggling with crumbling buildings and poor-quality IT and equipment. But public finances are tight, meaning that government will need to get better value from its spending – not just rely on spending more. There is a role for both national and local government in making sure that capital budgets are spent well – so what would a Conservative government do?

Speakers:

Steve Brine, former Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee

Polly Curtis, Chief Executive of Demos

Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

Sam Rowlands MS, Welsh Shadow Minister for Health

This event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

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The Conservative government made substantial progress between 2019 and 2024 in devolving power to metro mayors in places including Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. Devolution was a core part of the Johnson and Sunak governments’ levelling up strategy, but was this approach a success? This panel discussed the successes and failures of devolution and consider the Conservative case for further empowerment of local leaders across England.

Speakers:

Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Professor Richard Jones, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at The University of Manchester

Councillor Tim Oliver OBE, Leader of Surrey County Council and Chairman of the County Councils Network

Laura Shoaf, Chief Executive of the

West Midlands Combined Authority

This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Policy@Manchester.

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While the last Conservative government did not use the term ‘industrial strategy’, it nonetheless effectively operated one. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt set out five “growth sectors” he wanted to support to drive through the government’s priorities, and funded an Advanced Manufacturing Plan, published a Battery Strategy, and set out plans and resources for aerospace, automotives, offshore wind and more. The government’s post-Brexit reforms to state aid gave UK ministers the ability to set the rules and deploy state subsidy in a more nimble and targeted way, while the Vaccines Taskforce set a precedent for decisive government support of a vital industry, advertising to the world the UK’s excellence in Life Sciences.

But at the same time, Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government was reticent of talking about any kind of industrial strategy, unlike some previous Conservative leaders. This event discussed what the Conservatives should learn from recent experience of industrial policy.  Key questions will include:

Speakers:

Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Professor Nigel Brandon OBE, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of Sustainable Development in Energy at Imperial College London

Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

This event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Imperial College London.

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Procurement accounts for around a third of all government expenditure – but in recent years it has been hit by a number of negative headlines. Issues with purchasing PPE in the pandemic, and more recently the Post Office scandal, have led to questions about how to hold government and suppliers to account when things go wrong. The soon to be implemented Procurement Act includes measures to improve accountability, but it is unclear how effective these will be. This event explored what the government can do to strengthen accountability.

Katy Balls, Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator

Daniel Bruce, Chief Executive of Transparency International UK

Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Joe Powell MP, Chair of APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax and Member of Parliament for Kensington and Bayswater

This event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Transparency International UK.

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The government sees AI as an engine of innovation and productivity, including within government itself. But when faced with constrained public finances and a profusion of ways to use AI, where should government focus to achieve results? Could faster progress be made? 

This event brought together politicians and civil society representatives to discuss how government can and should make the best use of AI. It also considered how the potential risks might be anticipated and addressed, as well as how the government can maintain public trust as technological change occurs. 

Speakers:

Kate Bell, Assistant General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress

Alwin Magimay, Global Head of AI at PA Consulting

Gaia Marcus, Director of the Ada Lovelace Institute

Gordon McKee MP, Member of Parliament for Glasgow South

This event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with PA Consulting.

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The Labour government has set ambitious public service objectives. But with poor performance across many services and limited scope to substantially increase funding, improving public sector productivity will be critical. However, public service productivity fell both during and after the pandemic. And many of the drivers of poor productivity, such as underinvestment in capital, have been a problem for decades. This event explored what can the new Labour government do to fix these issues - and whether better services can really be delivered for less.

Speakers:

Georgia Gould MP, Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Dan Butler, Head of Government Affairs at Google Cloud UK

Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Professor Mark Thompson, Professor of Digital Economy at the University of Exeter

This event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Google Cloud UK and the University of Exeter.

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The Labour party has put prevention at the centre of its plans for public services, with the new government’s public spending audit signaling greater ‘investment in prevention’. But while governments of all stripes have called for more focus on prevention, they have often found it hard to deliver. In recent years, funding of public services has increasingly shifted away from preventative interventions towards acute ones. With public spending set to remain tight for the coming years, this event explored what can the Labour government do to tip the balance towards prevention?.

Speakers:

Andrew Gwynne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE, Chief Executive of The Health Foundation

Paul Kissack, Group Chief Executive of Joseph Rowntree Foundation

This event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with The Health Foundation.

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Through allocating almost half of national income, often over multiple years, spending reviews are the key vehicle through which a government can set its overarching strategy in motion. However, the approach taken in recent years has been ineffective. It has often failed to provide adequate certainty, incentivise cross-government cooperation, make the most effective use of evidence, and successfully identify opportunities for improving long-term productivity. This event explore how a new Labour government can reinvigorate the process so that it can deliver on an ambitious set of cross-cutting missions? 

Speakers:

Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee

Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

Tom Sasse, Britain Public Policy Editor at The Economist

Moira Wallace, former Permanent Secretary

This event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with the Association for Project Management.

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Many of the government’s objectives, including improving the performance of public services, will rely on good investment. But current plans imply investment spending plans will be tight. This event explored how the Labour government can ensure it invests well in public services. 

Speakers:

Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and the REAL Centre (Research and Economic Analysis for the Long term) at the Health Foundation

Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

Phillip Woolley, Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLP

This event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Grant Thornton UK LLP.

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After a series of awkward stories over gifts and donations, how can Labour reassert its credentials around upholding public standards - and avoid standards issues distracting from its wider agenda for government? 

This event will explore how key reforms such as the creation of the long-promised Ethics and Integrity Commission and establishment of the Modernisation Committee will work and what else needs to be done to restore trust in politics.

Speakers:

Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Leader of the House of Commons

Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and Columnist at the Financial Times

Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Duncan Hames, Director of Policy and Programmes at Transparency International UK

Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption

This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Spotlight on Corruption, Transparency International UK, and the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition.

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Decarbonising the power system by 2030 and accelerating to net zero is one of Labour's five missions. But achieving this goal means moving faster than the previous government and overcoming barriers like the availability of skilled workers while engaging with distributional questions to ensure a just transition. Building on recent IfG research, this event looked at what the new government has done so far - and what other actions it could take to accelerate delivery while avoiding any unintended consequences for the wider transition to net zero. 

Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority

Clem Cowton, Director of External Affairs at Octopus Energy

Ed Cox, Executive Director for Strategy, Economy & Net Zero at West Midlands Combined Authority

Rosa Hodgkin, Researcher at the Institute for Government

Professor Karl Whittle, Professor of Zero Carbon and Nuclear Energy at the University of Liverpool

This event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with The Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool.

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What needs to be done to embed Labour's missions-led approach into the way that government works? How should No.10, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury be reformed to help deliver long term policy objectives? What is the role of ministers in mission-led government? And how can mission-led government mean more than a few new committees in Whitehall – and instead, help the centre to address long term chronic problems, make government more open and encourage collaboration?

Speakers:

Josh Simons MP, Member of Parliament for Makerfield and former Director of Labour Together

Clare Moriarty, former Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of Citizens Advice

Kartina Tahir Thomson, President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

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With Labour winning the 2024 election on a pledge to widen and deepen devolution across England, this event discussed how and why the government should make a reality of this commitment. The panel considered the role that metro mayors and local government can play in helping Labour to achieve its economic missions, which specific powers should be devolved, and how institutions such as universities can themselves contribute to the government’s industrial strategy.

Speakers:

Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East

Professor Richard Jones, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at The University of Manchester

Jen Williams, Northern England Correspondent at the Financial Times

This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Policy@Manchester.

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Labour has inherited an economy that has struggled with low growth and weak productivity for most of the past 15 years. The government has proposed a new industrial strategy, sometimes called ‘securonomics’, which it says will help to deliver high-tech industries, boost lagging regions and support UK companies to be global champions in growth sectors. And it plans to establish a new Industrial Strategy Council to ensure the kind of long-term commitment to the agenda that has too often been missing. This event discussed what this council should do to help deliver Labour’s aspirations for economic renewal.  

Speakers:

Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation

Peter Foster, Public Policy Editor at the Financial Times

Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) at Imperial College London

Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

This event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Imperial College London.

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Britain’s housing market is unfair. House prices are over eight times average earnings. Social housebuilding rates have sharply declined, and homelessness is high. How can the Liberal Democrats ensure the government delivers the sustainable and affordable housing Britain needs?

Speakers:

Lee Dillon MP, Member of Parliament for Newbury

Max Wilkinson MP, Member of Parliament for Cheltenham

Anna Clarke, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum

Sophie Metcalfe, Researcher at the Institute for Government

Tristan Robinson, Director of External Affairs and Social Value at Thakeham

This event was chaired by Nehal Davison, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event was in partnership with Thakeham.

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Civil servants are already using AI for a variety of purposes, from summarising and analysing data to drafting correspondence. The new Labour government sees AI as a route to greater productivity and growth, both within government and beyond.

Bringing together the themes of two private roundtables hosted by the Institute for Government in partnership with Scott Logic, this public event explored the use of AI in policy and communications, and for civil service effectiveness. 

How are public servants making use of AI in their work?

How should government’s own use of AI inform its broader approach to AI’s development and regulation?

And how can government distinguish between panic, hype and useful applications of AI and other emerging technologies?

To discuss these questions and more, this event brought together an expert panel featuring:

Duncan Brown, Head of Software Engineering at the Incubator for AI

Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Jess McEvoy, Principal Consultant at Scott Logic

Jeni Tennison, Founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data

The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Associate at the Institute for Government.

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The biggest challenges UK government faces, from tackling low economic growth to addressing regional inequalities, adapting to climate change and transforming public service performance, will need to be addressed by harnessing the insight and expertise of people from outside government itself. So what can be done to bring more external expertise into the heart of government? 

This event will explore a core conclusion of the IfG Commission on the Centre of Government – that external voices need to be more embedded in decision making in No.10, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury.

The Commission's final report concluded that successive governments had failed to do enough to systemically recruit talented people from outside government and use their skills and insight.

We reflected on the Commission’s recommendations and discuss how to improve decision making by amplifying expert voices from outside government.

The panel were:

Baroness Diana Barran, former Minister for Civil Society

Sir Ian Cheshire, Chair of Channel 4 and former government lead non-executive director

Neil Heslop, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation

Dame Helen Stephenson, former Chief Executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales

The panel will be chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This event is supported by a grant from Charities Aid Foundation.

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The government’s approach to procurement is entering a new era. Significant reforms to the UK's post-Brexit procurement legislation, set out in the Procurement Act, will redefine how public sector organisations acquire goods, services, and human resources as new rules and opportunities emerge. So with almost £400bn a year spent on public procurement, how ready are public bodies and suppliers for the Procurement Act’s profound implications?

Drawing on IfG's extensive research and analysis on government procurement and outsourcing, this event convened a panel of experts to explore the following key questions:

What are the main changes that will be implemented under the new Procurement Act?

How prepared are public bodies and suppliers for these changes?

What impact will the changes have on procurement practice?

What are the key risks and opportunities for public bodies and suppliers?

We were joined by an expert panel, including:

Lindsay Maguire, Deputy Director for Procurement Reform Implementation at the Cabinet Office

Andy Milner, Chief Executive Officer of Amey

Peter Schofield, Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement at Manchester City Council

Laura Wisdom, Partner at Burges Salmon

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event is kindly supported by Burges Salmon.

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Spending reviews, which decide how at least half a trillion pounds of annual public spending should be allocated across different public services, are one of the most consequential processes in government. The new government has announced a new review, to conclude in Spring 2025, that will determine departmental budgets for much of the current parliament. But how should ministers choose how to prioritise for spending? Should more money be spent on roads, skills, or police? What is the best way to judge the costs and benefits of each decision?

A new report from the London School of Economics, Value for Money calls for a radical change in policy making. It argues that policies should be judged using a cost-benefit analysis which includes a comprehensive valuation of their effects on wellbeing. The report argues that, judged this way, therapies for mental health and guaranteed apprenticeships give much better value for money than most new roads.

To discuss this topic, we were joined by a panel, including:

Professor Lord Richard Layard, Co-Director of the Community Wellbeing Programme at the Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics and co-author of Value for Money

Lord Gus O’Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary

Amanda Rowlatt, former Chief Economist at the Department for Transport, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Department for Work and Pensions

Conrad Smewing, Director General of Public Spending in His Majesty's Treasury and Joint-Head of the Government Finance Function

The panel was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

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The Labour government will have been in power for nearly two months by the time parliament returns on 2 September. We have already seen a King’s Speech, a major statement on the public finances, an overhaul of the planning system, big plans for clean power – and more. So what have we learned since Keir Starmer became prime minister – and what comes next for government and British politics?

Ministers – and opposition MPs – are braced for busy couple of months ahead. What legislation is coming down the track in parliament? How significant is Rachel Reeves’ upcoming budget? Is there more clarity about mission-led government and how the prime minister wants his No.10 to work? How is the Conservative Party leadership contest progressing? And how significant will the party conference season be for Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak and Ed Davey?

To discuss these questions and more, this Institute for Government webinar brought together an expert panel featuring:

Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow the Institute for Government

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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A daunting public services to-do list awaits Keir Starmer and his newly elected Labour government. Most services are performing worse than on the eve of the pandemic and substantially worse than in 2010, but future funding is set to be tight. Ministers will need to make best use of existing budgets and carefully choose targets for any additional investment.

So what are the most pressing public services issues facing the new government? What will happen to service performance if Labour sticks to existing spending plans? How can services be improved without substantial spending increases? And where should any extra funding be prioritised?

To discuss these questions, and a new Institute for Government and Nuffield Foundation report on the topic, this event brought together an expert panel featuring:

• Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
• Sam Freedman, Author of Failed State: Why Nothing Works and How We Fix It
• Patricia Hewitt, Chair of Norfolk & Waveney NHS and former Secretary of State for Health

The event was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

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The chancellor has set out her audit of public spending to MPs. Revealing what she calls a multi-billion pound “black hole” in the government finances, Rachel Reeves has vowed “to fix the mess we inherited” from the Conservative government.

So do these sums add up and what do they mean for public services? Should this inheritance come as a surprise to Labour and what does it mean for the party’s manifesto pledges? And what is Rachel Reeves’ plan – which could involve tax rises or spending cuts – for dealing with the problem?

To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:

• Olly Bartrum, Senior Economist at the Institute for Government
• Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
• Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

The webinar was chaired by Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

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Since 2010 the UK’s capital spending on prisons, hospitals and schools has been consistently lower than many other countries – leading to crumbling buildings, creaking IT and a lack of equipment. But the size of the budgets is only part of the problem – these budgets have also been badly spent.

This will continue to hamper public service performance unless the new government takes a new approach to capital spending. So what could it do differently to achieve better outcomes? How can ministers, select committees, the Treasury, and other central government departments rethink their approach? And what steps could be taken in the next multi-year spending review?

The event began with a short presentation from Thomas Pope, outlining the main findings of a recent IfG and Grant Thornton report on this topic, Capital spending in public services: Fixing how the government invests in the NHS, schools and prisons.

To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:

• Wayne Butcher, Director at Grant Thornton UK

• Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research at the Health Foundation

• Sir Jon Coles, Group Chief Executive of United Learning and former Director General for Schools at the Department for Education

• Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

The panel was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK for kindly supporting this event.

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The King’s Speech set out Sir Keir Starmer’s legislative agenda for government and revealed his priorities for the parliamentary session. Following the State Opening of Parliament, the IfG expert team – with guest Chris White, who for half a decade was responsible for managing and planning the last government’s legislative programme – explored what the King’s Speech reveals about Keir Starmer’s plans for government.

Presented by Hannah White, with Alex Thomas, Jill Rutter and Chris White.

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A general election brings the appointment of a whole host of new ministers, and on day one in government they begin a job like no other.

Former shadow ministers may be familiar with their new policy portfolio, but ministerial life is very different to opposition. The switch from leading a small team to heading up departments with hundreds or thousands of civil servants, and from issuing press releases to making life-changing policy decisions, happens overnight.

But ministers too often overlook how they can move beyond ‘on the job’ learning and get the most out of their ministerial careers. So how can ministers get the support they need to succeed in government? What benefits are there in investing in professional development? What skills do ministers and other executives need to be effective leaders? And what support is available to ministers seeking to develop their skills in government?

To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:

• Rt Hon Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, former Chief Whip
• Dr Paul Chapman, Senior Fellow at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
• Rt Hon Chloe Smith, former Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
• Ruth Turner, Senior Director at the Forward Institute and former Director of Government Relations in the Prime Minister’s Office

The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

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Keir Starmer used his first speech as prime minister to declare that the “work of change begins immediately”. But how will the Labour government approach the complex policy challenges that it has inherited? And how will it start making progress on new promises? 

From freeing up space in crowded prisons to turning around struggling public services, delivering clean energy and kickstarting economic growth, the government’s to-do list is daunting. Labour has promised to “change how Britain is governed” in order to deliver its aims in government – but how will this work in practice? What does Labour’s ‘mission-led’ approach mean for the way government operates? How will central government work with locally elected mayors? And what do Keir Starmer’s cabinet appointments – and the way he has structured his centre of government – tell us about how his plan for government will work?

The FT’s Jen Williams joined us to discuss Keir Starmer’s first week as prime minister and what it tells us about how he intends to govern Britain.

Chaired by Hannah White with Joe Owen and Emma Norris.

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This Friday will be day one in government for the winner of the general election. But there will be no chance for anyone to catch their breath after a gruelling campaign. The job begins at once.

So what should civil servants be braced to expect as ministers are appointed to their new roles? How can special advisers best prepare for that frenetic first 24 hours? And what actually awaits a prime minister as they step through that famous No10 door?

The IfG goes behind the scenes of the first day in government after a general election – and reveals what civil servants, officials and ministers can expect to happen next.

Salma Shah, former Government special adviser (2014-2019)

Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the IfG

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the IfG

Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the IfG (Chair)

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Manifesto launches are a significant moment in any general election campaign, and Thursday’s publication of Labour’s manifesto is a big chance for Keir Starmer to set out how his party would govern if it wins the general election on 4 July.

So how plausible are the manifesto’s plans? What are the big dividing lines with the Conservatives? How would a Labour government pay for public services? And what does the manifesto tell us about the priorities of a Labour government after 14 years in opposition?

In this General Election 2024 webinar, the Institute for Government gives an expert briefing on what is in the Labour manifesto – and what it would mean for government.

Panellists included:

Sam Freedman, author of Failed State

Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government (chair)

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Manifesto launches are a significant moment in any general election campaign, and Tuesday’s publication of the Conservative manifesto is a big opportunity for Rishi Sunak’s party to set out its vision for government if it wins the general election on 4 July.

So what are the flagship policies? Do the tax and spending numbers add up? How plausible and credible are the manifesto’s plans? And, after 14 years of power, how much of a break is this manifesto from previous Conservative policies and priorities?

In this general election 2024 webinar, the Institute for Government gives you an essential expert briefing on what is in the Conservative manifesto – and what it would mean for government.

Panellists included:

• Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
• Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
• Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
• Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government (chair)

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With attention focused on politicians, and politicians focused on winning votes, a general election campaign is an unusual time for civil servants. Their top priority remains serving the government of the day, but they must also prepare for a potential transition of power, and be ready to work with whoever forms the next government. 

Civil service activity is also restricted during the formal ‘pre-election period’, with civil service impartiality protected by government guidance and measures to stop public funds being used for campaigning purposes. So how should civil servants navigate this period of heightened political sensitivity? How does the work of the civil service change in the campaign? And what can civil servants do to prepare for a potential transition of power?

Ahead of the general election on 4 July, this IfG webinar explored all these questions and more, and asked what lessons can be learned from previous election campaigns and past transitions of power.

To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by:

• Sir David Bell KCB DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sunderland and former Permanent Secretary
• Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
• Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government and former senior civil servant

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow, Institute for Government.

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The Rt Hon David Lammy MP set out how a foreign policy lens of ‘progressive realism’ might affect the practice of diplomacy, should Labour win the election.

The discussion covered the evolution of the Foreign Office as an institution, under both Labour and Conservative governments. It focused in particular on the balance between traditional diplomatic activity and the new demands created by climate change, global health challenges and the regulation of emerging technologies.  

The Shadow Foreign Secretary also explored the convergence between domestic economic and foreign policy and its implications for how Labour's mission-driven approach would shape how Whitehall works on international issues.

Following his speech, David Lammy was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, and took questions from the audience.

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The Institute for Government welcomed Lucy Powell MP, the Shadow Leader of the Commons, to give a keynote speech on how a Labour government would approach parliament, the legislative process, and the role of MPs.

With Westminster hit by a series of scandals in recent years, what can be done to restore parliament's image? How can the legislative process be improved? And how would Labour, if elected, approach the way that MPs work in parliament?

Following her speech, Lucy Powell was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government. She then took part in an audience Q&A.

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From attacking opposition policies to rebutting opposition attacks, selling key messages to voters and shaping media narratives, general election campaigns can be won or lost on the success of a communications strategy.

So how do the parties design and deliver their approach to the media, or to communicating beyond the media? How different are the approaches needed for print, broadcast and online? Are the challenges different for the Conservatives and Labour? What are the key moments and potential turning points in a campaign? And what happens when an unexpected event, gaffe or story threatens to derail a general election campaign?

To examine how Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are communicating with the electorate as the general election approaches, and to explore the lessons of previous campaigns, the Institute for Government brought together people who have led communications strategies for government and the opposition, and shaped election coverage for national broadcasters and newspapers.

Anushka Asthana, Deputy Political Editor at ITV News

Lee Cain, Downing Street Director of Communications (2019–20)

James Schneider, Head of Strategic Communications for the Labour Party (2016–20)

Katy Searle, Head of BBC Westminster (2017–20) and Executive Editor of BBC Politics (2020–22)

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

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The success of the civil service has always depended on the recruitment and retention of exceptional individuals – and this means bringing in talented outsiders with particular skills and capabilities.

It is 170 years since the Northcote-Trevelyan report argued that people “of the highest abilities should be selected for the highest posts” in Whitehall, while the government’s most recent reform plan, the 2021 Declaration on Government Reform, argued that more external recruits were needed. So, who are the officials at the very top of the civil service – and is enough being done to recruit the best outside talent?

Why would the civil service benefit from bringing in more outsiders? Does civil service culture make it difficult to thrive as an external recruit? What sort of skills does the civil service need from expert outsiders? And what progress has been made since the Declaration on Government Reform was published?

To discuss these questions, this event featured three permanent secretaries who have all spent time working in the private sector as well for the civil service:

Gareth Davies, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Business and Trade

Cat Little, Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office

Sarah Munby, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Jordan Urban, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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On Thursday 2 May 2024, voters across England and Wales will head to the polls in a major set of local and mayoral elections. The highest-profile contests will be the election of 10 influential metro mayors – including in Greater London and across the north and the midlands. Together these leaders will be responsible for over £25bn of public spending and will play a vital role in shaping the fortunes of the places they represent.

Thousands of councillors in over 100 local areas across England are also up for election, with the successful candidates taking responsibility for key public services at a time of acute financial pressures across local government. Voters will also elect 37 police and crime commissioners and the 25 members of the London Assembly.

These elections are far more important than just providing a straw in the wind for the general election to come. To discuss why these elections matter and what to expect, the Institute for Government hosted a public event with expert panellists including: 

• Sarah Calkin, Editor of the Local Government Chronicle 

• Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University and Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Social Research

• Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government

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Trust in government and politicians continues to fall, and this parliament has seen many ethical scandals, from partygate to bullying. Over the last few years, various organisations including the IfG have called for major reforms to the way ethical standards are upheld in public life, but the government has only made piecemeal changes. 

Labour has criticised the Conservatives for their performance on this issue, but has recently been less vocal on the topic. With an election due in the coming months, will the political parties make ethical standards an issue during the campaign?  

To discuss the IfG’s proposals on rebuilding trust in public life, how things can be improved, and why this topic matters ahead of the election, we were pleased to welcome a great panel: 

• Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

• Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Shadow Minister Without Portfolio (Cabinet Office) and Labour MP for Torfaen

• Esther Webber, Senior UK Correspondent at Politico

• Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Wright MP, Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam and former Attorney General

The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government.

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Less than a year out from a general election, the significance of opinion polls in shaping public perception and political strategy is increasingly prominent. Political pundits, parties, journalists and members of the public look to opinion polls to give them a picture of what people are thinking about parties and politicians, their priorities and concerns, and how they might vote. Crucially, public opinion will inform political parties’ election strategies and the public’s voting decisions.

But with multiple companies publishing a range of different polls, it can be a confusing landscape. To interpret polling results, understanding the methodologies behind opinion polls, including sampling, margin of error and the all-important question framing, is more important than ever. And for those trying to understand party strategies, it is essential to understand the role polling plays.

To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including:

• Kelly Beaver MBE, Chief Executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland

• Christabel Cooper, Director of Research at Labour Together

• Rob Ford, Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe

• Tom Lubbock, Founding Partner of JL Partners

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

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AI-generated ‘deepfake’ audio clips of both London mayor Sadiq Khan and leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer have circulated on social media. A faked robocall impersonating Joe Biden was sent to voters before a primary election. The number of AI-enhanced images of politicians is increasing.

In a year when over two billion people in more than 50 countries will vote in elections, the use of AI technology – more widely accessible than ever – and disinformation could have a major impact on trust and integrity.

So what can be done to tackle this growing problem? What can political parties, government, media companies and civil society do to mitigate the risks of AI and ensure electoral integrity? And what steps can be taken ahead the elections of 2024 and then in the longer term.

We were joined by an expert panel, including:

• Professor Joe Burton, Professor of International Security in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University

• Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation and Digital Transformation at the Electoral Commission

• Chris Morris, Chief Executive of Full Fact

• Simon Staffell, Director of Government Affairs at Microsoft

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Lancaster University for kindly supporting this event.

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The question of how to reform the House of Lords dominates discussions about the upper house, with less attention focused on its day-to-day activities. Since his election as Lord Speaker in 2021, Lord McFall of Alcluith has sought to champion its important role of revising legislation and advising the government, while ensuring the Lords remains on the path of modernisation.

Lord McFall has focused on parliamentary outreach and prioritised communicating the value of the House of Lords externally, bringing the devolved parliaments and Westminster closer. He has also worked with schools and universities, and launched a podcast, to demystify the upper house. 

What are public perceptions of the upper chamber and how have they changed? How has the Lords changed its ways of working? What kinds of links does it have with the devolved parliaments? And what might all of this mean for discussions about reform of the Lords?

Lord McFall addressed these questions and more in a keynote speech at the Institute for Government, before taking part in a discussion with the IfG’s Director Dr Hannah White and an audience Q&A.

Follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @IfGEvents and join the conversation using #lordspeaker.

Lord McFall of Alcluith became Lord Speaker in 2021, having served as senior deputy speaker for five years. He entered the Lords in 2010 after spending 23 years in the Commons as Labour MP for Dumbarton and later West Dumbartonshire. There, he served as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office, a government whip, and chaired the Treasury Select Committee between 2001 and 2010, including during the global financial crisis. Before entering politics, Lord McFall worked for over a decade as a teacher.

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The Treasury is perhaps the most powerful department in Whitehall. Its ownership of public spending means it has direct control over the money available to the rest of government, while the Treasury’s responsibility for tax policy gives it enormous influence over the finances of households and businesses.

But criticism of the department’s influence on government policy is almost as old as the institution itself, with frequent complaints about the “dead hand of the Treasury” or attacks on the department’s “orthodoxy”.

However, a recent IfG report found many of the fiercest criticisms to be overblown: many simply represent a dislike of a budget constraint. The department plays an important function in effectively managing public spending and guarding against financial disorder. It has also consistently been a champion of economic growth, though there is debate about how that is managed against its responsibility for managing government spending. While the department has clear strengths, there are clearly problems with how it functions. The Treasury often takes a short-term approach, is frequently accused of micromanaging other departments, and wields excessive influence over government policy relative to the rest of the centre.

So how can these problems be addressed? How much are they due to the relative weakness of other departments or the incentives facing Treasury ministers? And just what impact does the Treasury have on government policy making?

Our expert panel exploring these issues and more featured:

• James Bowler CB, Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury

• Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research at the Health Foundation and former Director of Public Spending at HM Treasury

• David Gauke, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

• Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and co-author of Treasury orthodoxy, and former No 10 special adviser for industrial strategy

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

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Fraud is the UK’s most common crime. But despite 3.5 million incidents reported in 2022/23, 40% of all reported crimes, only one in a thousand results in a charge or summons. So why is there such a huge gap between preventing, detecting and prosecuting this crime – and what can be done to fix the problem?

A wide range of organisations have responsibility for tackling fraud, including the Home Office, National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, City of London Police, Metropolitan Police Service, Financial Conduct Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre. However, there are problems with coordination, capacity and capability.

So what can government and others do to help prevent fraud? How can coordination among the various agencies responsible for tackling fraud be improved? And what steps could be taken to help increase detection and prosecution rates?

We were joined by an expert panel, including:

• Francesca Carlesi, CEO of Revolut UK

• Adrian Searle, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre

• Nick Stapleton, Co-Presenter of BBC Scam Interceptors

• Rt Hon Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow Attorney General

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

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From tackling low economic growth to addressing regional inequalities, from adapting to climate change to transforming public service performance, UK government is facing substantial and urgent challenges. But without radical reform of the centre of government, whoever wins the next election will repeat the failures of previous administrations. The next prime minister must transform No.10, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury.

On Monday 11 March, The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH and The Rt Hon Gordon Brown spoke at the Institute for Government to launch the final report of the Commission on the Centre of Government. It sets out a plan – ambitious but deliverable – for reforming the centre of government.

Over the last year the IfG’s Centre Commission has been speaking to people who have worked at the heart of government in the UK and overseas, to devolved governments, industry and civil society leaders and community leaders. Our conclusion is that the centre of government is not equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Fundamental change is needed – and it cannot wait.

The first part of the event featured opening speeches from Sir John Major and Gordon Brown. This was followed by panel discussion of the core recommendations of the report. For this discussion we were delighted to be joined by:

• Baroness (Louise) Casey, a Commissioner who supported the project, and a crossbench peer and former civil servant

• Lord (Gus) O'Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service

• Sir Anthony Seldon, Deputy Chair of the Commission on the Centre of Government.

The panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government and Chair of the Commission on the Centre of Government. This event was supported by a grant from Charities Aid Foundation.

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With the general election less than a year away, the Conservatives, Labour and all other political parties are drawing up their manifestos. Scrutinised by the media and voters, manifestos can shape debate, shift the polls, and play a major part in an election campaign – and shape what the winning part does in government.

While manifestos are described as a contract between a party and the people, the reality in government is often quite different. Pledges may prove difficult to deliver in practice, with unforeseen crises and the day-to-day challenges of governing seeing commitments fall by the wayside. In a coalition or minority government, parties may have to compromise.

So how do the parties develop and write their manifestos? What does a good manifesto actually look like? What are the questions that Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will be considering when signing off on their manifestos? And just how important are manifestos during – and after – a general election campaign?

Joining us to discuss these questions and more were: 

• Andrew Fisher, former Executive Director of Policy for the Labour Party, and author of the 2017 and 2019 Labour manifestos 

• Robert Shrimsley, Chief UK Political Commentator and Executive Editor at the Financial Times

• Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First, and co-author of the 2019 Conservative manifesto

The event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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Dr Thérèse Coffey served in government under every prime minister from David Cameron to Rishi Sunak, including four years as a member of the cabinet. She led the Department for Work and Pensions through the Covid pandemic, served as deputy prime minister and heath secretary under Liz Truss, and was made environment secretary by Rishi Sunak. She left government at the November 2023 reshuffle. 

Dr Coffey joined Tim Durrant, Programme Director for Ministers at the Institute for Government, to reflect on her government career and the challenges of ministerial life. What was it like serving under five different prime ministers? How did she approach running a large delivery-focused department during the pandemic? And are the pressures of ministerial office impacting too much on the lives of politicians?

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Devolution to Wales is almost 25 years old. Since the first Welsh assembly elections in 1999, the powers of the devolved institutions in Cardiff have been substantially expanded – with Welsh voters backing the historic transformation of the assembly into a law-making parliament in a 2011 referendum. 

A quarter of a century since devolution began, what are the potential next steps in Wales’s unfinished constitutional journey? Set up to address this very question, the cross-party Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, established by the Welsh government, will publish its final report in January 2024 – a key moment in the debate on the future of Wales.

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, the First Minister of Wales, to discuss the findings of the commission, his perspective on how devolution to Wales could be protected and strengthened, and how a future Labour government in Westminster should reform the constitution and improve relations with the devolved administrations.

Mark Drakeford was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, followed by Q&A with the live and online audience. 

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A wide-ranging discussion on the key issues facing government – and the economy – as a general election draws near. On the panel:

• Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal and former Executive Director of Policy to Keir Starmer

• Anita Boateng, Partner at Portland Communications and former Special Adviser for the Cabinet Office, MoJ and DWP

• Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

• Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

• Joe Owen, Director of Impact at the Institute for Government (Chair)

This event was part of the Institute for Government’s Government 2024 annual conference.

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Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government, set out key findings from Performance Tracker – the IfG’s annual stocktake of nine key public services – ahead of a panel discussion on how public service performance can be turned around. On the panel:

• Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and Columnist at the Financial Times
• Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council
• Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, former Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government (Chair)

This event was part of the Institute for Government’s Government 2024 annual conference.

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The IfG was delighted to welcome Rt Hon John Glen MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for a keynote speech at Government 2024, the IfG’s annual conference with Grant Thornton UK LLP. This was followed by an in conversation with Dr Hannah White OBE, Director of the IfG.

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The next general election is – at most – one year away. If Labour wins, there will, as is almost always the case in the UK, be an overnight transition of power. A party that has spent 14 years in opposition would be instantly thrown into government.

But having focused already limited resources on election campaigning, and often lacking the knowledge and experience of being in government, how can opposition parties prepare for an overnight transition? Which issues do they need to consider ahead of a possible election win? And what challenges might arise on that first day in power?

As the Institute’s research shows, proper preparation can make the difference between success and stagnation once in office. This event, the latest in the Institute for Government’s General Election programme, discussed a new IfG report – Preparing for government: How oppositions should ready themselves for power – which sets out how to prepare for a possible transition into government.

Joining us to the discuss the report and its findings was an expert panel, including:

• Wes Ball, former Director of the Parliamentary Labour Party
• Baroness Fall, former Deputy Chief of Staff to David Cameron
• Dr Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
• Lord Macpherson, former Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury (2005–16)

The event was chaired by Joe Owen, Director of Impact at the Institute for Government.

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Earlier this month Lord Maude, who served as Minister for the Cabinet Office from 2010-2015, published his Independent Review of Governance and Accountability in the Civil Service. The comprehensive review saw Maude speak to former and present civil service leaders, minister and ex-ministers, former Prime Ministers, and many civil servants. Maude concludes that “the arrangements for governance and accountability of the civil service are unclear, opaque and incomplete”, and that the centre of government has become "unwieldy, with confusion about where responsibilities lie."

So what is Lord Maude’s plan to fix these problems and how would his 57 recommendations work? Ministers have reacted coolly to Maude’s plan to split the Treasury and create an Office of Budget and Management, but is he right? What responsibilities should the Cabinet Secretary hold? And what can be done to ensure this review of the civil service succeeds when so many previous attempts have failed?

To discuss these questions and more, Lord Maude joined us in conversation at the Institute for Government. The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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After Rishi Sunak used the recent Conservative Party Conference to pitch himself as the ‘change’ candidate, the Autumn Statement on 22 November was Jeremy Hunt’s first opportunity to set out the government’s new tax and spending plans. But what the Prime Minister and Chancellor can offer will in part be shaped by the new economic and fiscal forecasts they were given by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the UK’s independent fiscal watchdog.

So, what does the Autumn Statement reveal about this government’s approach to economic and fiscal policy? How has the economic and fiscal outlook changed since March and how might that shape the general election campaign? Does the government have any new plans to try to boost growth and household incomes? What do the government’s public spending plans look like – and are they plausible?

To explore these questions and more, our expert panel included:

• Anoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor of the New Statesman

• Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

• Richard Hughes, Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility

• Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government.

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High standards are crucial for maintaining public trust in the police – but in recent years the reputation of the Metropolitan Police has been damaged by a number of scandals.

Sir Mark Rowley was appointed as Met Commissioner in September 2022 with a mandate to bring in higher standards of policing, reduce crime rates, and deliver more trust in the Met Police. At this Institute for Government event, the Commissioner set out how he intends to achieve his priorities, including through changes to police structures, improved leadership, and the New Met for London plan.

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government. Following his brief opening remarks, the Commissioner took part in a Q&A with the in-person and online audience.

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Public services were hit hard by the pandemic, which exacerbated existing performance problems and pressures on staff. High inflation and widespread strikes have since caused further disruption.

Ahead of the Autumn Statement, this event brought together an expert panel to discuss:

• How does public service performance compare to pre-pandemic levels?

• How can the government recruit and retain sufficient staff to improve public service performance?

• What are the key public service challenges that will be faced by the winner of the next election?

As the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) publish the latest edition of Performance Tracker which features new analysis on the performance of public services, Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, presented the key findings. He was joined by Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and columnist at the Financial Times, and Baroness Morris, Chair of the Lords Public Services Committee.

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government, with opening remarks by Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA.

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Rishi Sunak has until December 2024 to call an election. While the formal starting pistol has yet to be fired, and may not be for at least a year, the long campaign has already begun. Both Sunak and Starmer are presenting themselves as the change candidate and the person to fix a country that – they both argue – is struggling to find its way.

Kicking off the Institute's General Election programme, this event reflected on the opening pitches of the two main parties at their recent conferences. It will ask what change the country, government and political system needs, what change the voters want, and whether either party has a plan to deliver it.

Joining us were:

• Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland

• Lord Mandelson, Chairman of Global Counsel and former minister in the Blair and Brown governments

• Kate McCann, Political Editor at Times Radio

• Lord Willetts, President of the Resolution Foundation and former minister in the Major and Cameron governments

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

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To mark the publication of her new book, The Women Who Made Modern Economics, Rachel Reeves MP sat down with IfG's Chief Economist, Dr Gemma Tetlow.

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Twenty-five years after the Scotland Act established the devolved Scottish government and parliament, the future of devolution and Scotland’s place in the Union remain contentious issues. The SNP continues to advocate for Scottish independence. Meanwhile, the UK government has pursued a strategy of ‘muscular unionism’. Scottish Labour has called for a new approach, based on greater cooperation between UK and Scottish governments, and for stronger local government within Scotland. So what does Scotland’s constitutional future hold?

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Anas Sarwar MSP, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party. How can Scottish devolution be strengthened? What might a future Labour government at Westminster mean for relations with Holyrood? And what is Sarwar’s vision for Scotland’s place in a reformed Union?

To discuss these questions and more, Anas Sarwar was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, followed by Q&A with the live and online audience.

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Questions about standards in public life have dominated politics in recent years. As Chair of the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life since 2018, Lord Evans KCB DL has been at the heart of these debates, leading the committee’s work to define and uphold ethical standards across the public sector. 

As Lord Evans reaches the end of his five-year term, he joined the Institute for Government to reflect on the work of the committee and the UK’s approach to standards in public life more broadly. He discussed how the standards landscape has changed, the challenges he anticipates, and how he would like to see public standards strengthened in future. 

After his speech, Lord Evans was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience. 

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Baroness Hale, former President of the Supreme Court, joins Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, and Professor Michael Kenny, Director of Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge, for an in conversation.

This event was part of the IfG and Bennett Institute's joint conference on the Future of the UK Constitution.

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The Institute for Government welcomed Rt Hon Liz Truss MP to give a keynote speech on the economy.

A year since her government’s Growth Plan – the September 2022 ‘mini-budget’ – including a programme of tax cuts and supply side reforms, the former prime minister set out her vision for how the government could enable the UK to achieve faster economic growth.

Following her speech Liz Truss was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, the Director of the Institute for Government, before taking part in a Q&A with an invited audience.

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The Darlington Economic Campus is rapidly establishing itself as the civil service’s flagship office outside of London – and has been described by chancellor Jeremy Hunt as moving “decision makers and advisers closer to the communities we serve.”

So how has the Darlington Economic Campus changed the way policy is made? What difference has it made to the local area and is it contributing to the levelling up agenda? What are the factors behind the campus’s success and should it be used as a blueprint for future relocations? And what are the next steps in the government’s plan to relocate the civil servants from London?

A recent IfG report has evaluated the impact of the Darlington Economic Campus on the civil service and the local area and set out recommendations for current and future relocations.

At this event, which was held in Darlington, there was a welcome from Nigel Robinson from PA Consulting, and a short presentation from Jordan Urban, the report’s lead author. Baroness Penn, Treasury Lords Minister, responded to the IfG's research.

An expert panel discussion followed, featuring:

• Jo Crellin, Director General, Trading Systems at the Department for Business and Trade

• Mike Hughes, Business and Commercial Editor at The Northern Echo

• Baroness Penn, Treasury Lords Minister

• Andrew Perkin, Business Growth and Investment Manager at Darlington Borough Council

• Beth Russell, Second Permanent Secretary to the Treasury

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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There has been no shortage of central government attempts to support regional development over past decades, but these have been insufficient to close the widening gaps in geographical disparities, with efforts lacking scale, coordination, data and effective oversight, and policies ultimately proving short lived. So what can be done to fix the problem?

The Levelling Up White Paper proposed several reforms to 'rewire Whitehall' to ensure the goverenment delivered more effective regional policy, including the creation of a Levelling Up Advisory Council (LUAC) – an expert group reporting to the levelling up secretary of state – to provide insight, challenge, and advice to the government on its design and delivery of the levelling up policy agenda. This event also considered how central government can best be organised to deliver effective long-term regional policy, whether the white paper’s reforms are the right ones, what difference structures like the Advisory Council make, and what else is needed.

So what progress has the government made on implementing the white paper proposals? What difference have the structures set out in the white paper made already and is the LUAC fulfilling the purpose it was set up for? What are the key challenges for a government when trying to deliver cross-cutting policy? And are the structures in place for cross-government working, between central and devolved governments, adequate to deliver regional policy effectively?

To discuss these questions and more, the Institute for Government brought together an expert panel.

• Andy Haldane, Chair of the Levelling Up Advisory Council and Chief Executive of the RSA

• Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

• Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

• Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering and member of the Levelling Up Advisory Council

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

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How to restore trust in politics by strengthening standards in public life has been in the spotlight in recent years. The Labour Party has proposed a new, independent Ethics and Integrity Commission to “stamp out corruption in government, strengthen the rules and ensure they are enforced.” 

 But how would that commission work in practice? If Labour forms the next government, what powers would the commission have to investigate alleged poor behaviour? How will it enforce its judgements? Who would sit on the commission and how will it work with government ministers?

 To answer all these questions and set out her vision for how to make politics work better at a time of depleted trust, the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster, gave a keynote speech at the Institute for Government.

The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Following her speech, Angela Rayner took part in a Q&A with the in-person and online audience

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The rule of law is a fundamental principle of a constitutional democracy – but in recent years it has been the subject of much debate. What role should the rule of law play? What is the government’s commitment to the rule of law? And what part should public law play in solving political disputes? As Attorney General, Victoria Prentis KC MP acts at the intersection of politics and the law. She is Chief Legal Adviser to the Crown and advises the government on both domestic and international law. The Attorney General's Office oversees the Law Officers’ departments, which include the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, and the Government Legal Department, where the Attorney General was herself a government lawyer for 17 years before being elected as an MP.

She gave a keynote speech at the Institute for Government. The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government. Following her speech, the Attorney General took part in a Q&A with the in-person and online audience.

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Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world. With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer pledging to hit ambitious emissions targets and make the UK a clean energy ‘superpower’, the net zero agenda will be a major issue at the next general election. So what needs to be done to switch the UK from being an economy powered by carbon to one that is near emissions free, and does the UK have a credible plan to hit its net zero targets?

To explore these critical questions, and examine what government needs to do to meet its climate objectives, the Institute for Government brought together leading politicians and experts from the UK and beyond for a special net zero conference. The morning focused on whether the UK government has the right policies in place to cut emissions. And in the afternoon we examined government’s role in supporting green industries, following major subsidies announced by the US and the EU.

At this session, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Net Zero, joined Emma Norris, IfG Deputy Director, to discuss how a Labour government would do net zero differently.

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Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world. With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer pledging to hit ambitious emissions targets and make the UK a clean energy ‘superpower’, the net zero agenda will be a major issue at the next general election. So what needs to be done to switch the UK from being an economy powered by carbon to one that is near emissions free, and does the UK have a credible plan to hit its net zero targets?

To explore these critical questions, and examine what government needs to do to meet its climate objectives, the Institute for Government brought together leading politicians and experts from the UK and beyond for a special net zero conference. The morning focused on whether the UK government has the right policies in place to cut emissions. And in the afternoon we examined government’s role in supporting green industries, following major subsidies announced by the US and the EU.

Following a welcome from IfG Director Dr Hannah White, the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP joined us to discuss his Independent Review of Net Zero and the government’s progress so far.

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Over many years Sajid Javid held some of the most senior roles in British government, serving as a secretary of state in six different departments under three different prime ministers – including as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary. Javid, who will stand down from parliament at the next election, is now a commissioner on the Institute for Government’s Centre Commission. At this ‘in conversation’ event he shared his experiences at the heart of government to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses at the centre and how they could be fixed. What are the biggest problems with the centre of government? What are the tensions between No.10 and the Treasury? How does the centre work with the rest of government? And how can the priorities of a prime minister best be delivered?

To discuss these questions and more, Sajid Javid was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, followed by a Q&A.

The Institute for Government’s Commission on the Centre of Government is looking at why No.10, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury do not always work as well as they should and what could be done to radically improve the centre of UK government.

The Centre Commission’s purpose is to produce concrete recommendations for a confident, proactive, coherently-structured centre of government equipped to meet the challenges and take the opportunities of the 21st century and deliver for the people of the UK. The Commission will report in February 2024.

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Northern Ireland has had no ministers since October. The DUP is refusing to re-enter into power-sharing arrangements in protest over the Northern Ireland protocol; despite the new Windsor Framework agreement, the party has still not returned to Stormont. The Secretary of State has had to set a budget for Northern Ireland, and civil servants are obliged to make difficult decisions to balance the books.

To discuss the ongoing governance challenges in Northern Ireland, reflect on the impact of the Windsor Framework, and set out the Northern Ireland Office’s approach to restoring power-sharing, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, the Northern Ireland Secretary, spoke at the Institute for Government.

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

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With the government taking the Covid inquiry to court to protect WhatsApp messages, the use of WhatsApp is in the spotlight. It has become fundamental to the way Westminster and Whitehall works – but is this way of communicating good for government?

It has been reported that key decisions during the pandemic were taken in WhatsApp groups – made up of the prime minister and a handful of advisers. While some messages have been leaked, much of the content may never see the light of day – particularly with some users setting their messages to ‘disappear’ within days or even hours. 

So is WhatsApp changing the way decisions are made or is it just the 21st century equivalent of an informal conversation in a corridor, a bar, or on a phone? What can be done to ensure decisions taken on WhatsApp are shared and scrutinised? And how much has changed in government since the app was first launched? 

To discuss all this and more, the Institute for Government brought together an expert panel:

• Dr Alice Lilly, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

• Emily Walch, former special adviser to Vince Cable and Senior Counsel at Grayling

• Matt Warman MP, former Minister of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

• Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor at The Times

This event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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Special advisers ("SpAds") play a hugely important role in government, and successful ones are key to helping a minister achieve his or her priorities. The number of SpAds has more than doubled since 2010, but the job is not well understood by the public – or, in some cases, by special advisers themselves. So what do SpAds do on a day-to-day basis? How do they interact with ministers and the civil service? And what does it mean to be good at the job? 

Building on IfG research from 2020, this event will consider how the role has evolved over recent decades. What skills and capabilities are needed to be an effective SpAd? How should potential future SpAds approach the role? And how does the UK compare with other countries in the way its political advisers operate?

To explore these questions, the IfG brought together an expert panel including:

• Sonia Khan, Associate Director at Cicero and former special adviser to Philip Hammond and Sajid Javid
• Jennifer Lees-Marshment, Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, focusing on the political adviser role in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
• Liz Lloyd, former Chief of Staff to Nicola Sturgeon
• Baroness Sally Morgan, former Director of Government Relations for Tony Blair and Chair of Ofsted 

The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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The government’s Levelling Up the United Kingdom white paper contained ambitious proposals to deliver a devolution deal to every area of England that wants one by 2030, but the proliferation of regional authorities and directly elected mayors across England alongside different arrangements in the devolved nations can make co-operation and co-ordination difficult. This event will consider what structures and ways of working could help support cross-government action on levelling up.

How well have mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) worked with central government? Do mayoral combined authorities need a single point of contact in Whitehall or is it better to work directly with different departments? Have MCAs successfully encouraged cross-council working on levelling up? How can the UK government work more effectively with the devolved nations?

To explore these questions, the IfG brought together an expert panel including:

• Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council
• Professor Francesca Gains, Professor of Public Policy at The University of Manchester
• Dr Jack Newman, Research Associate at The Productivity Institute and the Department of Politics at The University of Manchester
• Joe Rossiter, Policy and External Affairs Manager at the Institute of Welsh Affairs

The event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

Follow us on Twitter @ifgevents and join the conversation using #IfGlevellingup.

This event was kindly supported by Policy@Manchester, The University of Manchester's policy engagement unit.

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In recent years, government has had to contend with multiple crises, from the Covid pandemic to major increases in energy costs. Ministers and civil servants have often had to work in crisis mode – making major policy decisions at speed, rapidly deploying staff, and developing new systems. But the potential for further crises looms large, especially given continued international instability. And government is still dealing with the lingering effects of previous shocks, particularly Covid, on key public services. This means that government must be ready for future shocks, while managing the impact of previous ones – and it must do all of this while continuing to deliver on day-to-day priorities.

So how can government do this? What lessons should it learn from the experience of recent crises? Is it effectively identifying and managing risk, so that it stands ready to address future shocks? And what does government need to ensure that it can still make progress on its day-to-day priorities? 

To discuss these questions, the Institute for Government brought together:

Alex Chisholm, Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office

Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, whose seventh Chair's Annual Report examining these themes was published the morning of 6 June.

This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government.

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Has civil service impartiality had its day?

Recent events in government, including the circumstances following Dominic Raab’s resignation as justice secretary, have at least on the surface deepened a divide between ministers and officials – and civil service morale has dropped as the strained relationship between ministers and officials deteriorates.

With Raab complaining of “increasingly activist civil servants” and warning that it had become “almost impossible for ministers to deliver for the British people”, there have been increasing calls to give more powers to ministers to bring their political allies into Whitehall.

So has civil service impartiality had its day? Is it time to allow more political appointments into civil service roles? What would this mean for the civil service’s ability to give good advice and effectively implement government policy? What other changes would help the civil service recruit people with the skills and specialisms that ministers want and the public need? And what else can be done to restore the fractured relationship between ministers and officials?

To explore these questions, the IfG bought together an expert panel including:

• George Eustice, Conservative MP and former Environment Secretary
• Ayesha Hazarika, Times Radio presenter and a former civil servant and special adviser
• Lord O’Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary
• Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First, a former adviser at 10 Downing Street and co-author of the Conservative Party's 2019 election manifesto

This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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The NHS spends over £30bn a year through procurement, on critical clinical services, medicines, equipment, IT, building maintenance, catering and cleaning. But does it spend this money well? During the pandemic questions were raised about value for money and transparency.

With NHS England recently creating a new central commercial function to coordinate the work of the more than 4,000 staff working on NHS procurement and supply chain, how can the NHS make the most of its collective buying power and ensure money isn’t wasted? What lessons can be learned from NHS procurement during the pandemic? How can the NHS create more resilient supply chains? What role can procurement play in tackling health inequalities and the NHS’s commitment to reach net zero by 2045? And how can the NHS take advantage of the changes proposed in the Procurement Bill?

To answer these questions, the Institute for Government convened an expert panel including:

Jacqui Rock, Chief Commercial Officer at NHS England

David Hare, Chief Executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network

Patrick Parkin, Partner at Burges Salmon

Luella Trickett, Director, Value and Access at the Association of British HealthTech Industries

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Burges Salmon for supporting this event.

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A commitment to level up the country was at the forefront of the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto, but how much progress can the government make on its flagship agenda with no more than 18 months remaining until the next general election? Is substantial progress on regional inequalities possible over the next few years given the broader economic circumstances? And should this and future administrations prioritise specific aspects of the agenda, such as skills? This event, which took place shortly after the 2023 local elections were held, assessed what comes next for levelling up.

To explore these questions and more, our expert panel included:

• Debbie Abrahams MP, Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth
• Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
• Andy Westwood, Professor of Government Practice and Vice Dean of Humanities at The University of Manchester
• Jennifer Williams, Northern England Correspondent at the Financial Times

The event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

This event was kindly supported by Policy@Manchester, The University of Manchester's policy engagement unit.

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HM Treasury – the UK’s economics and finance ministry – played a crucial role in the government’s response to the Covid pandemic. While the crisis was fundamentally one of public health, shutting down the country saw the government pay the wages of around a third of the workforce and spend billions supporting businesses. 

So how successful were the Treasury’s policies and how well did it work with the rest of government? What lessons should the Treasury learn from its pandemic response? How can the department be better prepared to handle future crises? And what can be done to improve how the Treasury operates in normal times?

This event presented and discussed the findings of a new report from the Institute for Government which examines how the Treasury implemented labour market and business finance support schemes, delivered an unprecedented amount of support to the country at incredible speed and under huge uncertainty, and worked with other government departments during the crisis. 

To explore these questions, the IfG brought together an expert panel including:

• Rushanara Ali MP, Member of the Treasury Select Committee
• Olly Bartrum, Senior Economist at the Institute for Government
• Prof Sir Charles Bean, former member of the Budget Responsibility Committee at the Office for Budget Responsibility (2017–21)
• Tracey Brown, Director of Sense about Science
• Sir Charles Roxburgh, former Second Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury (2016–22)

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

Follow us @IfGevents and get involved in the conversation using #IfGTreasury.

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Institute for Government · Keynote speech: Stephen Flynn MP, SNP Westminster Leader

The SNP has a new leader and Scotland has a new first minister. So what does the election of Humza Yousaf mean for the Scottish government – and for the role that the SNP plays in Westminster? What does the future of the relationship between the Westminster and Holyrood governments look like and what opportunities are there for the two governments to work together? How will the SNP make the case for independence under new leadership?

To explore these questions, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader in Westminster, to give a keynote speech.

The event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Follow us @ifgevents and join the conversation using #IfGFlynn.

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We were delighted to welcome the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, to speak at the Institute for Government.

Appointed as the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) in 2018, Sir Patrick has been responsible for providing advice on topics as varied as artificial intelligence, emerging pandemic diseases and climate change – and was a regular presence at No.10’s televised press conferences throughout the Covid crisis.

With his five-year fixed-term ending in the spring, Patrick looked back at his time as Government Chief Scientific Adviser and ahead to some of the science-related challenges facing government. How can the government make best use of scientific evidence? What more can be done to place science at the heart of government decision making?

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, with an opening address from Patrick followed by a Q&A.

Follow us @ifgevents and get involved in the conversation using #IfGscience.

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This event explored why successive governments have failed to address rising obesity and what would be needed to tackle it.

Our panel explored why successive governments have failed to address rising obesity and what would be needed to tackle it. We discussed which policies work, how to build support for them and the role of government in leading change.

To explore these questions and more, our expert panel included:

Henry Dimbleby, founder of Leon, former government adviser and author of Ravenous: how to get ourselves and our planet into shape

Sophie Metcalfe, Researcher at the Institute for Government

Dr Dolly Theis, Visiting Researcher at the Cambridge University MRC Epidemiology Unit

The event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

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The House of Lords is back in the spotlight. Boris Johnson’s resignation honours have reignited debates about the appointment process and the ability of politicians to hand life peerages to their friends, supporters and donors. Key figures across Westminster have called for stronger independent oversight of the appointment process. Labour Leader Keir Starmer has gone further, committing to replacing the House of Lords with an elected chamber if he wins the next general election, informed by the work of former prime minister Gordon Brown’s constitutional commission.

However, as past governments have discovered, how to reform the second chamber is the cause of intense disagreement. Who should replace the current membership? What should be the role of a second chamber? What are the risks involved in embarking on major constitutional change – and are the knock-on impacts clearly understood?

This event – part of the IfG Bennett Institute Review of the UK Constitution – will explore current proposals for reforming the House of Lords, including the newly-published Brown review, and consider how reform could be achieved.

Matthew Hanney, former Special Adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society

Lord Norton of Louth, Conservative Peer and Professor of Government at the University of Hull

Sarah Sackman, Commissioner, Brown Commission, Labour candidate for Finchley and Golders Green

The was chaired by Jess Sargeant,Senior Researcher, Institute for Government.

#IfGLordsReform

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Following a turbulent two months in politics, policy and financial markets, on 17 November Jeremy Hunt presented the government’s autumn statement, alongside a new set of fiscal and economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The following day the IfG hosted an event to react to the chancellor’s statement.

We were delighted that to be joined by Ben Chu, Economics Editor at BBC Newsnight, and Richard Hughes, Chair of the OBR, to discuss:

• What the new forecasts reveal about the outlook for the government, households and public services.
• What choices has Rishi Sunak made to help restore fiscal sustainability and credibility? Has it worked and will the government be able to deliver it all?
• What have the events of the past two months taught us about the importance and strength of the institutions at the heart of fiscal policy making – including the relationship between the OBR, the Treasury and ministers?

Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, and Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, will also join Richard to discuss the prime minister's fiscal plans drawing on the 2022 edition of the IfG and CIPFA Performance Tracker. Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, chaired the panel.

#IfGautumnstatement

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The public appointments system struggles to appoint candidates in a timely and efficient way. It has been dogged by controversy in recent years, from media speculation over the appointment of new chairs of Ofcom and the BBC to delays at the Charity Commission and the Competition and Markets Authority. Politicians, officials, candidates and the public have expressed frustration with the process. The Institute for Government’s report, Reforming Public Appointments, proposes a package of reforms including clearer data on the causes of delays, fewer ministerial decision points, and an expansion of regulation to include more roles.

Our panel explored what the purpose of the public appointments system is, how well it is working now and what reforms might be needed:

• Lord Jonathan Evans, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and former Director General of the UK Security Service
• Baroness Simone Finn, Former Deputy Chief of Staff at Number 10
• Sue Gray, Second Permanent Secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
• Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, Chair of the Liaison Committee and former Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
• William Shawcross CVO, Commissioner for Public Appointments

This event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. 

#IfGpublicappointments

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David Halpern, the ‘What Works’ National Adviser since 2013 and Chief Executive of the Behavioural Insights Team, has spent nearly a decade advising ministers and other leaders in government on using evidence to make better policy. As his term as national adviser comes to an end, he spoke at the Institute for Government to look back at the successes, failures and future prospects for doing ‘what works’ and how it should continue to inform government practice and policy.

Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and head of the civil service policy profession, joined David to reflect on good policy making, with Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government chairing the event.

#IfGWhatWorks

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From u-turning on budgets to sacking chancellors, spooking the markets and seeing borrowing rates climb, it has been a dramatic, chaotic and, for many people, painful start to Liz Truss’s time as prime minister.

What mistakes were made in the transition between Boris Johnson’s No.10 and Truss’s administration? Why were Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng so quick to disregard the value of institutions and experience in government? How should a prime minister change course when things go wrong? And what can Jeremy Hunt do as the new chancellor to restore faith in this government’s handling of the economy?

As Truss attempts to calm the markets, the public and her party, the IfG’s new director Dr Hannah White brought together an expert IfG panel to examine where the prime minister went wrong and explore the lessons that should be learned from her first 40 days in No.10 for future incoming administrations.

With

• Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
• Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
• Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government
• Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

#IfGTruss

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The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Michael Cockerell, the BBC broadcaster and political journalist whose award-winning political documentaries have taken viewers behind the scenes of British politics for nearly half a century. He has interviewed a dozen prime ministers from Macmillan to Johnson, and made films about leading politicians including Roy Jenkins, Enoch Powell Denis Healey, Barbara Castle, Ken Clarke and Alan Clark.  

His documentary series have included the How to Be trilogy (How to Be Chancellor, How to Be Foreign Secretary and How to Be Home Secretary), The Great Offices of State and The Secret World of Whitehall.

In conversation with IfG Senior Fellow Dr Catherine Haddon, Michael Cockerell discussed his memoir, Unmasking our Leaders, and share the stories and secrets – including clips from a number of his documentaries – of the politicians that he has met and interviewed. And with a new prime minister moving into 10 Downing Street, this event will also explore the qualities that make – and sometimes break – our political leaders.

#IfGCockerell

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Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's tax-slashing plan for growth stunned MPs, commentators and economists alike on Friday - and sent the value of the pound plummeting. So just how big a gamble is his vision for the economy? Does his plan for easing the cost of energy crisis add up? And how long does Liz Truss have to convince voters that her policies will deliver growth? 

The IfG economics team of Tom Pope, Giles Wilkes and Olly Bartrum assembled to make sense of a huge day in Parliament. Presented by Hannah White.

This is a recording of a Twitter Spaces conversation 

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The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Dame Dr Jenny Harries OBE, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency.

After serving as the UK’s deputy Chief Medical Officer during the pandemic, Dr Harries took on leadership of the new UK Health Security Agency in April 2021. In conversation with Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, she discussed her vision for the UKHSA:

• What role will it play in protecting the country from Covid and future pandemics?
• What does Dr Harries see as the main challenges and priorities for the agency?
• And how will Dr Harries’ time as Deputy Chief Medical Officer shape her approach to leading the UKHSA?

Jenny Harries is the inaugural Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency. She was previously the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England. She has served on the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and worked in a variety of public health roles in the UK and abroad.

#IfGHarries

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Modelling and forecasting played a prominent role in the way policies were designed and decisions were made during the coronavirus pandemic. But the government’s handling of the crisis raised questions about how modelling - epidemiological and economic – was used by ministers.

So how should models be produced and used within government? How should they be communicated to the public? And how well equipped are ministers and officials to understand and interpret modelling when making their decisions?.

This panel explored the role of modelling in the Covid pandemic, the lessons that ministers should learn, and how the UK should draw on modelling in future crises.

• Ben Chu, Economics Editor for Newsnight
• Professor Neil Ferguson, Director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London
• Richard Hughes, Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility
• Ruth Kelly, Chief Analyst at the National Audit Office.

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

#IfGforecast

We would like to thank The Forum, Imperial College London’s policy engagement initiative for kindly supporting this event.

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The Institute for Government was delighted to host an event with the Office for Budget Responsibility to discuss their new Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report.

While the economic shocks of the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been huge, there are many other factors likely to change the shape of the UK state and the demands placed on it in future. Some – such as the ageing of the population and the shift towards net zero carbon emissions – can be anticipated; others – such as the impacts of unabated climate change and possible future geopolitical instability – are harder to predict with certainty.

This event opened with a short presentation by Richard Hughes, Chair of the OBR, on the main findings in the report followed by a panel discussion on the major challenges facing the UK and how the government can best prepare for these.

Our panel included:

• Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General of RUSI
• Rosa Hodgkin, Researcher at the Institute for Government
• Richard Hughes, Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility
• Professor Andrew Scott, Professor of Economics, London Business School.

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

#IfGeconomy

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From housing to aviation, the digital economy to patient safety, ministers have a huge range of responsibilities. Yet little is known about how different ministers approach their roles and the reasons for these differences.

How do ministers make decisions? How do they work with the civil service and devise policy? And how do they manage their teams? Dr John Boswell and Dr Jessica Smith of the University of Southampton, drawing on the Institute for Government’s Ministers Reflect archive, have identified different patterns in the way ministers work and seek to lead the civil service - and the different approaches taken by men and women serving in ministerial roles.

To discuss their findings, and how this can help future ministers and civil servants:

• Dr John Boswell, Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Southampton
• Dr Jessica Smith, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Southampton
• Margot James, former minister at DCMS and BEIS and MP for Stourbridge, 2010-19
• Dame Una O’Brien, former permanent secretary, Department of Health

This event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

#IfGministers

We would like to thank the University of Southampton and the ESRC for supporting this event.

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Ministers emphasise the need to create new manufacturing jobs. But from law and accountancy to retail and hospitality, the UK economy is predominantly services-based – with many high value services jobs concentrated in the South East.

So how can the services sector contribute to economic growth across the UK? What can the government do to help service sector clusters thrive outside London and the South East? And is the government getting the balance right between focusing on manufacturing and services?

To discuss these questions and more:

• Bim Afolami MP for Hitchin and Harpenden
• Bhavina Bharkhada, Head of Policy at Make UK
• John Cooper, Partner, Public Law & Regulation at Gowling WLG
• Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

#IfGlevellingup

We would like to thank Gowling WLG for their support for this event.

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James Brokenshire served in Theresa May’s cabinet between 2016 and 2019, first as Northern Ireland Secretary and then as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. In memory of James, who died in 2021, the former prime minister delivered a lecture at the Institute for Government reflecting on the theme of public service which was central to his life and career.

Following the lecture, Mrs May was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

#IfGBrokenshire

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The government spends around £300bn a year – a third of all public expenditure – on procurement. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, the government has proposed major reforms to the rules governing public sector buying.  

The government says the new Procurement Bill will create a simpler and more transparent system which makes it easier for SMEs to win contracts and for the government to disqualify poorly performing suppliers.  

This event discussed the bill’s aims, challenges to achieving the government’s objectives and featured a presentation on the key measures contained in the bill from: 

• Ed Green, Deputy Director, Commercial Policy - International and Reform at the Cabinet Office 
• Lindsay Maguire, Head of Engagement for Procurement Reform at the Cabinet Office 

And responses from: 

• Mark Leigh, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer at DWP
• Laura Wisdom, Partner at Burges Salmon 

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

#IfGoutsourcing 

This event was kindly supported by Burges Salmon.

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Equipping the UK workforce with the right skills will be critical to the success of the net zero transition, and the government has committed to reforming the skills system.

What should those skills, and reforms, look like? How can the government make sure that the right skills are available in the right place at the right time? And what can it do to ensure that the opportunities of net zero are shared fairly across the country?

Discussing these questions were:

• Sam Alvis, Head of Economy at Green Alliance
• Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Policy and Translation at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment
• Ian O'Donnell, Net Zero and Special Projects Lead at the Federation of Small Businesses
• Tom Sasse, Associate Director of the Institute for Government. 

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGnetzero

We would like to thank The Forum, Imperial College London’s policy engagement initiative for kindly supporting this event.

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The role of the Lord Chancellor is to protect and uphold the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Yet the position is held by a cabinet minister: the secretary of state for justice.

This overlap between the independent judiciary and the political world, and the balance of power between parliament, government and the judiciary, is the source of much debate – and disagreement.

So what powers, if any, should a Lord Chancellor have over judicial appointments? Should the role go to someone with a legal background? What makes a good Lord Chancellor?

Sir Robert Buckland, who served as Lord Chancellor and secretary of state for justice until September 2021, opened this event with a short speech on his experiences in post and his proposals for how it can be reformed.

Responding to Sir Robert Buckland and joining the discussion:

• Baroness Butler-Sloss, former judge and first female Lord Justice of Appeal

• Sir Jonathan Jones, former treasury solicitor and head of the government legal department

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Director of Research at the Institute for Government.

#IfGLordChancellor

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As part of a special series of events on devolution and levelling up, featuring local leaders from across England, the Institute for Government is delighted to be joined by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

First elected in May 2017 and re-elected for a second term in May 2021, Andy Burnham discusses his role and priorities, the challenges of working with the UK government to level up the Greater Manchester region and what further powers he would like to see devolved in the promised ‘Trailblazer’ devolution deal being negotiated between Whitehall and local leaders in Greater Manchester.

Andy Burnham is in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and head of the Institute’s devolution research programme.

Andy Burnham was the MP for Leigh from 2001-17 and held a series of ministerial posts including Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Secretary of State for Health. In opposition after 2010, he served as shadow education, health and home secretary, before resigning his seat to become Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017.

#IfGdevo

This event was kindly supported by Policy@Manchester, the University of Manchester's sector-leading policy engagement unit.

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At the 2019 general election, the Conservative Party won votes in many places that had not traditionally voted Tory - with the promise to 'level up' the UK seen as a key factor.

A recent white paper finally set out the government’s plan to turn the levelling up slogan into reality, including 12 missions to be achieved by 2030. But with the general election due in no more than two years, will the government be able to demonstrate sufficient levelling up progress before voters return to the polls? Has it set its expectations too high? What do voters want to see from levelling up?

This event, held in the week after the local elections, asked what the public expects of levelling up and whether and how the government can deliver against public expectations before April 2024.

On our panel to discuss these issues:

• Viki Cooke, Founding Partner at Britain Thinks
• Andrew Lewer MP, Member of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee and Vice-President of the Local Government Association
• Alex Norris MP, Shadow Minister for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

#IfGlevellingup

We would like to thank Lloyds Banking Group for supporting this event.

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From attending parties during the Covid-19 lockdown to taking payment for lobbying, some MPs seem to think the rules they set for others should not apply to them. Their procedures are complex, they are far from representative of the UK population, and many appear detached from the lives led by their constituents.

So what can be done to reform the way the House of Commons works? How can MPs make their institution worthy of public trust? And what can parliamentarians do to restore their flagging reputation?

To mark the publication of her new book: Held in Contempt: What's wrong with the House of Commons? the IfG's deputy director, Dr Hannah White was joined by an expert panel, including The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Member of Parliament for Staffordshire Moorlands, and Chris Cook from the Financial Times.

The event was chaired by IfG senior fellow, Dr Catherine Haddon.

#IfGCommons

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After the long years of counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means the United Kingdom once again faces a conflict in Europe. At the same time, China is taking an increasingly assertive approach to Taiwan.

The government's response to this era of renewed global competition is the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. One year on from its publication, the Institute for Government was delighted to host MoD Permanent Secretary David Williams alongside Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin to discuss their priorities for the Ministry of Defence and what reforms will ensure the civil service and armed forces are able to meet the threats the UK faces in the world.

The event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government

#IfGUKdefence

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Boris Johnson has set 'levelling up' the UK as the mission for his government, but few in Whitehall or the country can explain exactly what it is, how it will be implemented and what success looks like.

Tackling regional inequalities lies at the heart of the Conservative Party's re-election hopes, but relies on the implementation of a complex series of policies across national and local government – so does the UK have the will and the money to see it through?

Following the release of the government's levelling up white paper, the Institute for Government welcomed Neil O'Brien, the minister for levelling up, to explore levelling up with Sebastian Payne, Whitehall Editor of the Financial Times and author of Broken Heartlands: A Journey Through Labour's Lost England.

The pair were in conversation with IfG director Bronwen Maddox, discussing Sebastian Payne's road trip through parts of England that voted Conservative for the first time in living memory and Neil O'Brien's work on producing the white paper and defining the policies that are the core mission of this government.

#IfGlevellingup

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COP26 highlighted the critical role business and finance will play in driving the transition to a net zero economy. Businesses made new net zero commitments; regulators discussed how to tighten scrutiny of those commitments; and policy makers announced plans to mandate the publication of climate-related risks to business.

So how can finance best help the transition to net zero? What can be done to prevent ‘greenwashing’ and build trust in businesses’ commitment to tackling climate change? And what does government need to do to support green business and finance?

With the UK set to continue to play a leading role on green finance, our panel discussed discuss how it can accelerate progress after COP26:

• Sarah Breeden, Executive Director, Financial Stability Strategy at the Bank of England
• Anthony Browne MP, member of the Treasury Committee
• Maria Lombardo, Head of ESG Advisory Sustainable Finance at Standard Chartered Bank
• Kuangyi Wei, Director, Risk & Regulatory Strategy, UKI at Accenture

The event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

#IfGnetzero

We would like to thank Accenture for kindly supporting this event.

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As part of a special series of events on devolution and levelling up, featuring local leaders from across England, the Institute for Government was delighted to be joined by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire and leader of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

After just under a year in office, Tracy Brabin discussed her role as mayor, working with the UK government to make levelling up a reality in West Yorkshire, and how she would like to see the powers of mayors evolve.

Tracy Brabin was in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

This event was broadcast live from Leeds in front of an invited audience. There was an opportunity to put questions to the mayor from both the online and in-person audience.

Tracy Brabin was elected as MP for Batley and Spen in October 2016. She was appointed Shadow Minister for Early Years in 2017; Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in January 2020 and Shadow Minister for Cultural Industries in April 2020. She was elected as the first Mayor of West Yorkshire in May 2021, at which point she was required to step down as MP.

#IfGdevo

We would like to thank Manchester Airports Group for kindly supporting this event.

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The future of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland remains uncertain, a year after it came fully into force. The arrangements continue to be a major source of tension in the post-Brexit UK-EU relationship and within Northern Ireland, with the first minister citing the DUP’s objections to the protocol for his recent resignation. The ongoing uncertainty around the protocol is having a real impact on business and society. And with the May 2022 elections to the Northern Ireland assembly approaching and a question mark over Stormont’s future, the UK and the EU are under pressure to reach agreement on the future of the protocol.

What lessons are there from the protocol’s first year? Why does the protocol continue to be a source of tension in the UK-EU relationship and such a divisive issue in Northern Ireland? Are attitudes changing? Where are the sticking points, and where is the protocol working well? What challenges are coming down the track and where can compromise be found?

Set against the results of new polling from Queen’s University Belfast, this event explored what people in Northern Ireland think of the protocol, the challenges that the UK and the EU face in managing the protocol and its consequences in the long term, and how people from Northern Ireland can be involved in the effective governance of the protocol’s implementation.

Panel:

• Professor Katy Hayward, Professor of Political Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast and Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe
• Professor David Phinnemore, Professor of European Politics at Queen’s University Belfast
• Raoul Ruparel, former Special Adviser to Theresa May on Europe
• Jess Sargeant, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

This event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGBrexit

We would like to thank Queen's University Belfast and the Economic and Social Research Council for kindly supporting this event.

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The Institute for Government recently published the ninth edition of our annual Whitehall Monitor report on the government’s size, shape and performance.

This report launch explored what Whitehall Monitor 2022 reveals about the way the pandemic has changed how the government works and how the Covid-19 response will sit alongside ministers’ wider agenda for the second half of the parliament.

How has the Omicron variant complicated the government's attempts to move away from crisis management mode? What will increases to departmental spending mean for pandemic backlogs? And what do civil service staff cuts mean for government capability - including its ambitions for civil service reform?

On our panel to discuss these issues were:

• Matthew Holehouse, British political correspondent at The Economist
• Charlotte Pickles, Director of Reform
• Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection
• William Wragg MP, Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

There was a short presentation of the key findings from the report at the start of the event.

#IfGWM22

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The Department for Education’s Covid response has been widely criticised, with schools closing and reopening with little warning and many pupils adapting to remote learning. And now DfE faces a fresh set of challenges – from ‘levelling up’ educational opportunities to ensuring everyone has a better start in life by improving early education and childcare.

But does DfE have the capacity to meet education’s challenges in the post-pandemic world? How has academisation changed the role of the department? Does it have the capacity to improve the system? And does the department devote enough time to long-term challenges?

On our panel to discuss these questions:

• Justine Greening, former Secretary of State for Education
• Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner for England
• Jonathan Slater, former Permanent Secretary for the Department for Education
• Rachel Sylvester, Political columnist at The Times

The event is chaired by Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGeducation

We would like to thank edpol.net and the Foundation for Education Development (FED) for supporting this event.

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Boris Johnson’s latest reset of 10 Downing Street kicked off in dramatic fashion last week with the announcement that four of his senior advisers were quitting – followed by the news that some familiar faces were coming in to save the day.

But with a new Chief of Staff, Director of Comms, Head of Policy, and Permanent Secretary, exactly how new is the new-look No.10? Can a change of staff save a Prime Minister? Can a ministerial Chief of Staff avoid competing with the Prime Minister? And how do the trials and tribulations of Johnson’s No10 compare with the experiences of those who worked there before?

This special edition dives into the organisation idiosyncrasies of No.10 and the confusing mix of roles that support the PM, and asks whether Johnson’s reset will make a difference.  Catherine Haddon presents, with the IfG’s Alex Thomas and guests Gavin Barwell, formerly Chief of Staff to Theresa May, and Kate Fall, who worked in No.10 as David Cameron’s deputy chief of staff.

Audio production by Candice McKenzie

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Institute for Government/Bennett Institute Review of the UK Constitution launch event. From Supreme Court interventions to accusations of ‘dead parliaments’, from the Brexit impact to the pandemic response, a tumultuous period in British politics has put the UK constitution under huge strain and undermined public faith in how the UK is governed.

Calls for change have come from all sides. Should the UK’s constitution be codified? Does parliament have enough power to hold the Government to account? Are the courts going too far in diluting government power? Does the role of the House of Lords and the monarchy need rethinking? Is devolution working – and do we need more of it? How do governments deal with the public and can trust be restored?

While the last five years have brought the Constitution’s sustainability into question, they have also created a real opportunity to reinvigorate UK democracy, restore trust in the political system and improve the way that government works. But without a clear vision for the future, the UK risks yet more constitutional confusion and conflict.

Over the next 18 months, the Institute for Government and the Bennett Institute of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, backed by a distinguished advisory panel, will undertake an impartial, non-partisan review of the constitution before setting out recommendations for change for this and future governments to follow. This event launched this major joint project, exploring how well the UK constitution is working and the problems that now need to be addressed.

On the panel to discuss the UK constitution and the problems faced, were:

• Dr Halima Begum, Chief Executive of the Runnymede Trust
• The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; current Member of Parliament for South Swindon
• Professor Ciaran Martin, former Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre; now Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University
• Baroness Smith of Basildon, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords

This event is chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. Professor Michael Kenny, Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, provided some opening remarks on the review.

#IfGBennettInst

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The long-awaited government white paper on levelling up is due to be published in early 2022, but the government alone cannot pay for the policies needed to help the UK’s left-behind areas.

So what can ministers do to involve the private sector in shaping and delivering the levelling up agenda? What more can be done to unlock greater private sector investment? How can private investment deliver social as well as economic impact? What lessons can be drawn from previous public-private partnerships to deliver major infrastructure improvements?

To discuss these questions, the IfG was delighted to host an expert panel including:

• Kevin Hollinrake MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking and member of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee
• Stephen Muers, Chief Executive Officer at Big Society Capital
• Sara Williams, CEO of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce
• John Wrathmell, Director, Strategy, Research and Economy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

#IfGlevellingup

We would like to thank Big Society Capital for supporting this event.

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The government's Subsidy Control Bill sets out how the UK will replace EU state aid rules, but will this deliver a post-Brexit dividend, and how will the UK's system change how subsidies are offered?

With the bill having passed through the House of Commons and set to be scrutinised in the House of Lords, this Institute for Government panel explored the opportunities – and risks – of setting up a bespoke post-Brexit state aid regime.

While leaving the EU allows the UK's system to focus domestic concerns and government priorities like reaching net zero, a poorly designed system could mean poor regulation of subsidies and creating legal uncertainty.

Will the new system provide the additional flexibility, freedom and certainty that the government has promised – or is it a recipe for confusion? And as the legislation is scrutinised in parliament, how can it be improved to ensure it delivers for UK governments, public bodies and businesses?

On our panel to discuss these issues were:

• Peter Foster, Public Policy Editor at the Financial Times
• George Peretz QC, Barrister at Monckton Chambers
• Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government
• Rahat Siddique, Economist at the Confederation of British Industry

The event began with a short presentation by Thomas Pope, summarising the new system and presenting initial conclusions on its effectiveness.

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

#IfGstateaid

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Nearly a year on from the end of the Brexit transition period, Jill Rutter, James Kane, Jess Sargeant and Joe Marshall from the IfG’s Brexit team plus UK in a Changing Europe’s Professor Anand Menon look back at how the UK is adjusting to life outside the EU and what to look out for in the UK-EU relationship in the year ahead. The Northern Ireland Protocol, Anglo-French fishing disputes, the Brexit opportunities agenda and the UK’s post-Brexit trade deals are just some of the items on the festive menu in this special joint podcast between the Institute for Government and the UK in a Changing Europe.

Audio Production by Candice McKenzie

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Two years ago, Boris Johnson was elected on a promise to ‘get Brexit done’ and ‘level up’ the UK. Then Covid-19 struck and dominated government time, energy and resources. But with the worst of the crisis now passed, and with the UK having left the EU, where will ministers turn their attention in the second half of the parliament – and is the Government well set up to deliver its priorities?

Is Brexit really ‘done’? Do the Government’s ‘net zero’ plans add up? Does more need to be done to support the post-pandemic economic recovery? And how will the Government turn its flagship ‘levelling up’ slogan into reality?

The Institute for Government welcomes the following expert panel to reveal the inner workings of government – and discuss whether Boris Johnson’s administration is well-placed to deliver its manifesto promises:

• Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI
• Stephen Bush, Political Editor at the New Statesman
• Dan Corry, Chief Executive of New Philanthropy Capital and former Head of the No.10 Policy Unit
• Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

The event is chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting this event.

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The UK’s two decade-long campaign in Afghanistan ended this summer with the withdrawal of British troops and diplomatic personnel from Kabul. A mission that began with the overthrow of the Taliban ended with the Taliban returning to power.

What did the UK’s 20-year stay in Afghanistan accomplish? Should politicians or the military take the blame for its failures? And how should Afghans and the international community approach the next phase of Taliban rule?

To discuss these questions the Institute for Government is delighted to bring together:

• Jack Straw, UK Foreign Secretary (2001–05)
• Hasina Safi, Afghanistan's acting Minister for Women (May 2020 – August 2021)
• Tobias Ellwood MP, Chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee

The discussion will be chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

#IfGAfghanistan

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Having introduced a legally binding target to achieve net zero by 2050 and with the Environment Act – designed to enforce UK environmental standards – now on the statute book, the UK government is proud of its green achievements. But does the UK’s post-Brexit independent trade policy live up to its domestic environmental commitments?

Earlier this year the UK agreed to omit references to temperature goals committed to in the Paris Agreement in order to secure a free trade agreement with Australia – an agreement which, on the government’s own analysis, will result in increased use of scarce natural resources and increased waste. So does the UK need to do more to position its environmental goals at the heart of its trade policy or would this hinder the UK’s ability to strike deals across the globe? Can trade policy help deliver positive gains for the environment? And should the UK government set out an overarching trade policy to bring consistency and coherence to its trade deals?

To answer these questions, and to explore what goals UK trade policy is – or ought to be – serving, the Institute for Government was delighted to bring together an expert panel including:

• Sir Martin Donnelly, former Permanent Secretary for the Department for International Trade (DIT) and for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (now BEIS)
• Dmitry Grozoubinski, Director of ExplainTrade
• Anna Sands, Trade Policy Specialist at WWF UK
• Chris Southworth, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGTrade

We would like to thank WWF UK for supporting this event.

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The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission, who was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

With voter ID, political party funding, and the abuse of candidates all in the spotlight, is enough being done to inspire the confidence of voters, parties and politicians in the electoral system?

More than six months after becoming Chair of the Electoral Commission, John Pullinger discussed the challenges facing UK democracy and some of the changes voters might see in the months ahead. 

This in conversation event also explored issues relating to John Pullinger's previous role as National Statistician.

John Pullinger was appointed Chair of the Electoral Commission in May 2021. Until 2019, he was the UK’s National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority. He has served as President of the Royal Statistical Society, Chair of the United Nations Statistical Commission, and Librarian and Director General for Information Services at the House of Commons.

#IfGElections

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What does it mean to be a member of parliament? What do people expect from their elected representatives? And how much have these expectations changed in recent years?

The row about MPs’ second jobs has triggered a discussion about what MPs are for and what their priorities should be. From representing constituents and dealing with casework to scrutinising government and improving legislation, MPs have many responsibilities.

So how should an MP divide his or her time? How has this changed over recent years? Should MPs be taking on extra paid work outside parliament? And what do constituents ultimately want from their representative?

To discuss these questions and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel:

• Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary, University of London
• Sir Peter Bottomley, Conservative MP for Worthing West
• Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion
• Marie Le Conte, political journalist and author

This event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

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Having 'taken back control’ of the UK border after Brexit, the government has ended free movement of people and introduced a new points-based immigration system.

But 10 months on, the UK labour market is under pressure, with a combination of Covid-19, Brexit, and other structural forces causing widespread shortages of workers.

To what extent has the new immigration regime contributed to these labour problems? Is the UK worse affected than other countries? Will there be longer-term benefits from the new immigration regime? Has Brexit made the UK more or less able to address labour market issues? And how is the government making the most of its new-found control?

To discuss these issues, we were joined by an expert panel:

• Seema Farazi, Partner, Financial Services, Immigration and Brexit at EY
• Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory
• Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
• Paul Wilson, Policy Director at the Federation of Small Businesses

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

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As part of our ongoing series of events on devolution and the Union, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Swinney MSP, the Deputy First Minister of Scotland.

What is the state of the relationship between the UK and Scottish governments? How well is devolution working for Scotland? What are the current tensions in the devolved settlement and how can they be resolved?

John Swinney, who is also Scotland’s cabinet minister for Covid recovery, gave a short speech before being in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, and programme lead for devolution.

John Swinney has been an MSP since 1999, and currently represents Perthshire North. From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy leader of the SNP, and then as party leader between 2000 and 2004. He has previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, and as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. He has been Deputy First Minister since 2014.

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As part of our ongoing series of events on the future of devolution across the UK, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and leader of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Six months after his re-election to a second term in office, Andy Street – who was in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government – discussed his role as a ‘metro mayor’, the constraints he faces in the role, and how metro mayors can help deliver the government’s levelling up and net zero objectives.

Andy Street started his career at the John Lewis Partnership in 1985 as a trainee at Brent Cross and rose to become the managing director in 2007. He resigned in order to stand for election, and was successfully elected in May 2017 as the Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands. He was subsequently re-elected to this position in May 2021.

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From targeted social media campaigns during elections to the introduction of the Covid-19 test and trace app, questions about our data – and how it is used – are at the heart of political decision making and debate.

With Elizabeth Denham’s five-year term as Information Commissioner ending on 31 October, this Institute for Government event looked back at her time in post – and look ahead to future challenges, and opportunities, for data use and protection.

In conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute of Government, Elizabeth Denham discussed the questions of freedom of information and transparency raised during the pandemic, how data can be shared responsibly and lead to digital transformation of public services, and how countries around the world can work together to meet digital threats.

Elizabeth Denham was appointed UK Information Commissioner in July 2016, having previously held the position of Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, Canada and Assistant Privacy Commissioner of Canada. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in Queen's New Year's Honours list in 2018.

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The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto promised an ambitious plan for connecting towns and cities by road and rail and supporting electric vehicles, cycling and walking. But what evidence will the government use to shape its transport strategy and how can it ensure the system is customer-focused? How has England’s transport network held up under the dual pressures of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic? And how can a transport strategy support net zero goals?

Following recent research from the Institute for Government and the Gatsby Foundation, which analysed the use of evidence in transport policy in the UK and compared it to four other countries, the IfG was delighted to bring together an expert panel to discuss whether England needs a single transport strategy, the challenges involved in putting such a strategy in place, and how the system can be resilient to shocks and crises whilst reducing carbon emissions and keeping the focus on user experience.

On our panel to discuss these issues were:

• Lord Adonis, former Secretary of State for Transport
• Sue Kershaw, Managing Director for Transportation at Costain and APM President
• Bridget Rosewell CBE, Commissioner on the National Infrastructure Commission
• Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive at Transport for the North

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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We would like to thank Costain for kindly supporting this event.

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As Theresa May’s chief of staff from 2017 to 2019, Gavin Barwell had a front row seat for the Brexit dramas, deals and deadlines that defined May’s premiership.

Brought into Number 10 after May lost her majority at the 2017 general election, Barwell battled alongside the former prime minister through meaningful votes, cabinet resignations and moments of high parliamentary drama.

But what exactly does a chief of staff do? What lessons should be learnt from May’s time in Number 10? And just how dysfunctional is the centre of power?

To mark the publication of Chief of Staff: Notes from Downing Street, Gavin Barwell was in conversation with the Institute for Government’s Dr Catherine Haddon.

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As the World Health Organization’s Special Envoy on Covid-19, Dr David Nabarro has played a leading role in the international response to the pandemic.

In conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government, he will discuss the international community’s handling of the crisis – from the initial outbreak in early 2020, to public health measures used to curb transmission, to current vaccination programmes.

As the international vaccine rollout continues, but with high numbers of Covid-19 cases across the world, Professor Nabarro will also set out how countries can best manage this phase of the pandemic – and what needs to be done to ensure we are better prepared in the future.

David Nabarro is co-director and chair of Global Health at Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation and strategic director of 4SD. In March 2020 he was appointed Special Envoy of WHO Director-General on Covid-19. He has over 40 years of experience in international public health as a community-based practitioner, educator, public servant, director and diplomat. He was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for work on international public health in 1992.

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With a week to go until Rishi Sunak sets out his multi-year spending review, the chancellor faces difficult decisions about how to fund public services.

The pandemic has hit services hard. Children have lost hours of learning, waiting times for court cases are longer, and a backlog for operations has built up.

So what spending choices must Sunak make? What is the pandemic’s impact on spending, staff, and service performance? And where might pressures intensify in the next three years?

As the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy launch the sixth edition of Performance Tracker – a data-driven analysis of the performance of key public services in England, including prisons, hospitals, schools, police and adult social care – its lead author Graham Atkins, Associate Director at the Institute for Government, presented the key findings.

To discuss, our panel included:

• Justine Greening, former Secretary of State for Education and former Economic Secretary to the Treasury
• Anoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor at the New Statesman
• Mike Driver CB, President of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, with an introduction by Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA.

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We would like to thank the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for supporting this event.

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With just over a week to go until COP26, the government has published three big climate reports. So what do we now know about the government’s strategy for hitting its net zero target? Does the plan stack up? Has the Treasury revealed how to pay for it? And were these documents worth the wait?

In a bonus IfG podcast, Tom Sasse is joined by Jill Rutter, Will McDowall and guest James Murray of Business Green to make sense of 2000 pages of net zero plans and pathways, targets and taxes.

Audio Production by Candice McKenzie

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It’s been a rocky year for Northern Ireland politics. Against a backdrop of worsening relationships, the Executive has had to cope with the pandemic, the protocol and the legacy of three years without Ministers.

The future of the Northern Ireland protocol hangs in the balance. The EU response to the UK’s proposals for major changes to the Withdrawal Agreement will be the start of an intense period of negotiations. The stakes are high with the UK governments threat to take unilateral measures on the protocol looms large, alongside the DUP’s threat to bring down the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Deal or no deal, the Northern Ireland Assembly is heading for an election in May 2022, if not before. This podcast will explore the view from Northern Ireland – can the UK and EU reach agreement before the end of the year? Will the Assembly survive until May? What are each parties’ prospects? What other challenges will the Executive be facing in the next six months?

To answer these questions the Institute for Government brought together an expert panel for a special IfG Live podcast.

• Dr Clare Rice, researcher and writer on NI politics
• Prof John Tonge, British and Irish politics professor at the University of Liverpool
• Aoife Moore, Political Correspondent for the Irish Examiner
• Alex Kane, Columnist and commentator

Presented by Jess Sargeant, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

Audio Production by Candice McKenzie

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Hitting the UK’s net zero target depends on the transformation of the UK’s cities. Many had already declared climate emergencies and set ambitious emissions targets before the pandemic, while big changes in the last 18 months – less commuting, more walking and cycling – have had big implications for urban areas.

But to help people permanently shift to low-carbon lifestyles requires local leaders to develop long-term approaches to infrastructure, taxes and regulations.

What needs to be done to ensure long-term transformation? Which pandemic-enforced changes should remain in place? How can cities and central government work together to make progress towards net zero?

On our panel to discuss these questions:

• Baroness Blake of Leeds, Shadow Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government and former Leader of Leeds City Council
• Professor Hayley Fowler, Professor of Climate Change Impacts in the School of Engineering at Newcastle University
• Christopher Hammond, Network Membership Director, UK100
• Steve Turner, Director, Devolved and Local Government at Connected Places Catapult

The event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government, with opening remarks by Giles Clifford, Partner at Gowling WLG.

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Departmental boards were introduced to bring private sector oversight into central government departments. But how are people appointed as departmental non-executive directors? What experience do they bring? And what advice do they give to ministers?

A recent Institute for Government report exposed how the system lacks transparency and is inconsistently applied. Ministers can appoint non-executive directors without due process, and the influence of a department’s board depends on whether a minister chooses to engage with it or not.

So what can be done to make more use of board members’ expertise? What changes could help boards to improve departmental performance? What can be done to improve the transparency of board appointments?

To discuss these questions, the Institute for Government was delighted to bring together an expert panel:

• Sue Langley, lead non-executive director for the Home Office and former interim government lead non-executive
• Sir David Lidington, former Secretary of State for Justice, Leader of the House of Commons and Minister for the Cabinet Office
• Dame Una O’Brien, former Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health
• Miranda Curtis, Director at Liberty Global and former lead non-executive director for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

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What is Great British Railways? How will it end rail industry fragmentation? And how can it deliver a rail network that works for customers, taxpayers, politicians, and the wider public?

The new organisation is at the heart of the William-Shapps Plan for Rail, which reported in May. Keith Williams, Chair of the Review, describes the British railway network as a “complex Rubik’s cube” and says Great British Railways should be a central ‘guiding mind’ in a reformed rail system.

This event explored how to make a reformed rail network work for Great Britain’s long-term post-pandemic future, drawing on lessons from previous attempts at reshaping the rail industry and experiences of setting up arms-length bodies elsewhere.

Our panel:

• Keith Williams, independent Chair of the Williams Review
• The Rt Hon. the Lord Darling of Roulanish, former Secretary of State for Transport and former Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect
• Andy Bagnall, Director General of the Rail Delivery Group

The event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGRail

We are grateful to The Rail Delivery Group for their support with this event.

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The pandemic has hit public services hard, creating backlogs - from children missing out on school lessons, to cancelled hospital operations and unheard court cases – and leaving local authorities facing budget shortfalls.

But as the government focuses on post-pandemic economic recovery, its priority is to ‘level up’ parts of the country which have fallen behind in terms of economic growth, opportunity, and wellbeing. With limited resources, how can public services both address backlogs and ‘level up’? Has the pandemic made levelling up harder for public services? How, if at all, can public services contribute to levelling up? What should the government do to help them both catch-up and level-up?

To discuss these questions and more, the IfG was delighted to host an expert panel including:

• Baroness Armstrong, Chair of the House of Lords Public Services Committee
• Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers
• Georgina Cox, Partner at PA Consulting
• Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First and former Education and Innovation Adviser to David Cameron.

The event was chaired by Graham Atkins, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

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Decarbonising homes will be among the most difficult elements of reaching net zero. Homes account for 15% of the UK’s total emissions, yet there has been little progress towards reducing these over the past decade. Confidence has been damaged by repeated U-turns and policy failures, including the Green Deal and the Green Homes Grant.

Achieving net zero by 2050 will require a huge national programme to deliver the infrastructure needed to reduce residential emissions – retrofitting homes, installing heat pumps and developing local heat networks. The government, businesses and consumers all have key roles to play. But how should the government approach policy making in this area? Will the long overdue Heat and Buildings Strategy be worth the wait and offer a clear plan? How can previous policy failures be learnt from? And how can we ensure the UK’s infrastructure is ready to support zero-emission homes?

On our panel to discuss these issues were:

• Lord Callanan, Minister for Business, Energy & Corporate Responsibility at BEIS
• Chris Burchell, Managing Director, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution
• Gillian Cooper, Head of Energy Policy at Citizens Advice
• Guy Newey, Director of Strategy and Performance at the Energy Systems Catapult

This event was chaired by Marcus Shepheard, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

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From closed schools to postponed exams, isolating teachers to bursting classroom bubbles, the last 18 months of education has been massively disrupted by the Covid-19 crisis. What can be done to help those students that have fallen behind? How can the gaps in attainment be bridged? And what lessons has lockdown taught us about education?

To discuss the challenges facing the education system in the next phase of the pandemic and Ofsted's role in the new academic year and beyond, Amanda Spielman, the Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

Amanda Spielman has been Ofsted Chief Inspector since January 2017. Between 2011 and 2016, she was chair of Ofqual, the qualifications regulator. From 2005 she was a founding member of the leadership team at the academy chain Ark Schools. Previously she worked at KPMG, Kleinwort Benson, Mercer Management Consulting and Nomura International.

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From disrupted supply chains to a shortage of lorry drivers, Brexit and Covid have combined to cause major problems at the UK border. Nando’s, McDonald’s and the Co-op are just three of the firms to have been affected.

As pandemic-related travel problems continue, the true impact of post-Brexit border rules has yet to hit. Full border checks on EU imports to Great Britain will only come into effect later this year, while extensive controls on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland may be introduced in the autumn. Businesses and individuals are currently left in limbo as negotiations between the UK and EU continue over how the Northern Ireland protocol will operate long-term.

Will border disruption worsen as the year goes on? How ready are business and government for the introduction of new controls? Is the UK’s new immigration to blame for staffing issues? And what more can done to solve existing problems and prepare for further changes.

To discuss these issues, we were joined by an expert panel:

• William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce
• Elly Darkin, Senior Associate at Global Counsel
• Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs
• Ian Wright, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation.

The event was chaired by Joe Marshall, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

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The pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the way Britain supports its poorest families – and also strengths. What should the government learn from the last 18 months and what opportunities for reform can it seize? The Second World War led to the Beveridge report and the creation of the welfare state and the NHS; can the pandemic also galvanise radical change?

An adviser to successive governments, most recently as the chair of the government’s Covid-19 rough sleeping taskforce, Baroness Casey is now calling for major reform in the way governments tackle hunger, rough sleeping and poverty.

She was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government

Baroness Casey has previously run the Rough Sleepers Unit, the Respect Task Force and the Troubled Families Unit. She also chaired this government’s Covid-19 rough sleeping taskforce.

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As one of the UK’s top epidemiologists and the head of the influential modelling group at Imperial College London, Neil Ferguson has played a critical role in providing advice during the Covid-19 crisis, as well as previous crises including foot and mouth.

In conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government, Professor Ferguson discussed the lessons he has learned about advising government, the role of scientific modelling in informing decision making and how scientists should communicate with the public. He also assessed the latest Covid-19 data, and what measures may need to be taken in the weeks and months ahead.

Professor Neil Ferguson is head of the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology in the School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London.

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Climate change is already devastating lives and livelihoods every year. With heatwaves, floods, wildfires and other extreme weather events becoming more common in the UK and around the world, all countries need to adapt and build resilience. So as the UK prepares to host COP26, the UK presidency has placed climate adaptation at the heart of its agenda.

COP26 is a huge opportunity for the UK. How can the UK government show leadership on climate adaptation, both internationally and domestically? How can countries provide support for people most vulnerable to the effects of climate change? What role can early warning systems play and how can this help inform approaches by policy makers and donors? And how can the UK both learn from other countries facing climate risks and share the lessons of its own experiences?

This panel event brings together experts from the UK and overseas to consider these and other questions:

• Richard Blewitt, Executive Director International at British Red Cross
• Rt Hon Baroness Brown, (Professor Dame Julia King), Chair of the Climate Change Adaptation Committee and Chair of the Carbon Trust
• Dr Jane Strachan, Head of International Applied Science at the Met Office
• H.E. Ms Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK

The event is chaired by Marcus Shepheard, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

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We would like to thank the British Red Cross and the Met Office for kindly supporting this event.

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The Brexit negotiations demonstrated long-standing weaknesses in parliament’s ability to scrutinise trade negotiations and international treaties – with much of the May government’s time spent managing attempts by parliamentarians to enhance their role. In light of the government’s post-Brexit ambition to conclude new trade deals with countries around the world, this panel examined how parliament currently scrutinises international treaties and what more parliamentarians should do to ensure effective scrutiny.

To discuss these issues, we were joined by:

• Jill Barrett, Associate Member 6 Pump Court, International Law Consultant and former Foreign Office legal adviser
• Mark Garnier MP, Member of the House of Commons International Trade Committee and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Trade, 2016–18
• Professor Holger Hestermeyer, Professor of International and EU law at King’s College London
• Alex Horne, Counsel at Hackett and Dabbs LLP and Special Adviser to the House of Lords International Agreements Committee

The event was chaired by Maddy Thimont Jack, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

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Membership of the EU meant that the UK had not had its own independent trade policy for more than 40 years. In one of her first acts as prime minister, Theresa May established the Department for International Trade to take on this function. This panel looked back at how department was established, how effective it has been in developing the UK’s skills and approach to international trade policy, and what more needs to be done to make the UK the big player in international trade it aspires to be.

To discuss these issues, we were joined by:

• John Alty, Interim Permanent Secretary at the Department for International Trade
• Dr Lorand Bartels, Reader in International Law at the University of Cambridge and Counsel at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
• Sam Lowe, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform
• Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

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Sir Jeremy Farrar has been at the heart of the global fight against Covid-19. As head of one the world’s most influential medical research charities and a leading member of SAGE, he has played a decisive role as complex decisions were taken to meet the rapidly-evolving threat of the pandemic.

Sir Jeremy discussed his new book, Spike – The Virus v The People: The Inside Story, with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. The book, co- authored with the Financial Times science columnist, Anjana Ahuja, sets out his reflections on the extraordinary last 18 months and puts forward his ideas on how the world can be better prepared to tackle future threats.

#IfGFarrar

We would like to thank Wellcome Trust for kindly supporting this event, which follows a joint project on how policy makers should tackle Covid-19 over the long term.

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As part of a new series of events on the future of devolution and the Union, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome The Rt Hon Mark Drakeford, Welsh Labour leader and First Minister of Wales.

After setting out his vision for devolution and reforming the Union, based on the Welsh government paper, Reforming Our Union: Shared Governance in the UK 2nd Edition, the First Minister was in conversation with Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

The First Minister discussed the state of relations between Westminster and Cardiff, the scope for changes to the powers and funding of the Welsh government, the case for reform of the House of Lords, and what needs to be done to create a new culture of shared governance between UK and devolved administrations.

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In our report Taking back control of trade policy, the Institute argued that the government needed a clear trade strategy. So far, the government’s main goal appears to be to strike as many deals as it can. But recent disagreements in cabinet over whether to open UK markets to Australian agricultural produce, and whether UK farmers will be able to compete, suggest that the government is still struggling to make the necessary trade-offs. This panel examined whether the UK has a trade policy, and if so, what it hopes to achieve.

To discuss these issues, we were joined by:

• Martin Bell, Deputy Director of Trade at the Scotch Whisky Association
• Anna Isaac, Incoming Economics Editor at The Independent
• Graham Stuart MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Exports) at the Department for International Trade
• Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow International Trade Secretary
• Nick von Westenholz, Director of Trade and Business Strategy at the National Farmers Union

The event was chaired by James Kane, Associate at the Institute for Government.

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The COP26 climate change summit in November is approaching fast – but where is the plan for the UK to meet its pledge to hit net zero by 2050 or to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035?

The government has yet to say what it will do – or who it expects to pay for the its plan to drive down emissions. How should costs be distributed between taxpayers, consumers and businesses? Where should the burden fall between current and future generations?

To debate how to pay for net zero and ensure the UK tackles climate change in a way that maintains public support, the Institute for Government brought together an expert panel for a special IfG Live podcast.

• Bim Afolami, Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden
• Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath
• Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies
• James Meadway, Director of the Progressive Economy Forum

Presented by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

Audio Production by Candice McKenzie

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The current government has close ties to Australia, with Australian campaign strategists such as Sir Lynton Crosby and Isaac Levido both having led successful election campaigns for the Conservatives in recent years, and the new trade deal between the UK and Australia agreed in principle in June 2021.

British politicians also like to point to Australia as an example of policy models to follow – from an ‘Australian-style’ immigration system to the prospect of an ‘Australian-style’ deal with the European Union.

This event brought together an expert panel to discuss why Australia has so captured the government’s imagination, what the UK is learning from Australia, whether the ‘Australia-style’ label glosses over important differences between the UK and Australia, and also whether there are any Australian policy successes that aren’t yet part of the political debate in the UK.

Our panel:

• James Starkie, Founding Partner at 5654 & Company and former Chief of Staff to Priti Patel
• Marc Stears, Director of the Sydney Policy Lab and former Chief Speechwriter to the Labour Party
• Laura Tingle, Journalist and Chief Political Correspondent at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• John McTernan, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former Director of Political Operations for Tony Blair and for Director of Communications for Julia Gillard

The was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGAus

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The G7 in Cornwall was a big opportunity for Boris Johnson to set out his vision for Global Britain. On the agenda was famine prevention, girls’ education, tackling climate change and, of course, recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. But the summit also took place against the backdrop of criticism, at home and abroad, of the government’s decision to cut the UK’s foreign aid budget.

To assess how much the summit achieved and to discuss what needs to happen next for the UK to reach its global ambitions and priorities, and how it can be a force for global good, the Institute for Government was delighted to bring together the following expert panel:

• Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross
• The Rt Hon Baroness Amos, Master of University College, Oxford and former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and former Secretary of State for International Development
• Tobias Ellwood MP, Chair of the Defence Select Committee
• Laila Johnson-Salami, Journalist at Arise TV and Founding Member of Feminist Coalition

The event was be chaired by Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

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Announcing the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the prime minister declared that “we have taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation”. Regaining regulatory autonomy was a key UK objective in the negotiations. The question now is what the government wants to do with it.

There is no shortage of ideas about how the government could regulate differently outside the EU. The taskforce set up by the prime minister to identify post-Brexit opportunities has made much of the ability to change regulation to better reflect the needs of the UK economy and promote innovation, and recommended reform in areas like financial services and life sciences. The government is now launching a search to find a director for its Brexit Opportunities Unit to "develop a cross-government strategy for regulatory change, while driving policy development on new opportunities across Whitehall."

As our recent report, Taking back control of regulation, shows, doing things differently from the EU presents opportunities, but also brings potential costs and risks.

To discuss how the government should think about regulation after Brexit, we brought together a panel representing a range of views:

• Bernardine Adkins, Partner, Head of EU, Trade and Competition at Gowling WLG
• John Foster, Interim Director of Policy and Communications at the Confederation of British Industry
• Joe Marshall, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
• Iain Martin, Columnist for The Times

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

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We are grateful to Gowling WLG for their support with this event

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On his final day as Chief Economist at the Bank of England, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Andy Haldane.

After seven years in this position, and as a member of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee, he discussed with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the IfG, his more than 30 years at the Bank of England and reflect on some of the big economic events he has witnessed during that time and the lessons he draws from those experiences.

Read Andy Haldane's speech: Thirty years of hurt, never stopped me dreaming

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The prime minister says a "green recovery” will be at the heart of the UK's post-pandemic comeback. But his government has so far set out less ambitious measures than some other countries and it cancelled its flagship scheme, the Green Homes Grant, after six months due to low take up.

With the UK hosting the COP26 climate conference in November, this panel discussed what combination of policies, public and private investment and skills programmes will be needed to turn the government's vision of a green recovery into reality.

On our panel were:

• Josh Buckland, Director at Flint Global and former Energy Adviser to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Sam Fankhauser, Professor of Climate Change Economics and Policy at the University of Oxford
• Rosa Hodgkin, Researcher at the Institute for Government
• Bridget Rosewell, Commissioner for the National Infrastructure Commission

Catherine McGuinness, Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee at the City of London Corporation, made the opening remarks.

The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

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The vote to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016 marked the start of a tumultuous period in British politics. The government was set on a collision course with parliament over what Brexit really meant. The civil service began to untangle 43 years of EU membership, building up new capabilities and preparing for new responsibilities. And the Brexit effect placed the United Kingdom under huge strain – with growing support for independence in Scotland and a new border in the Irish Sea.

What impact has the referendum had on the governance of the UK? Has control really returned to parliament, or to the government? And what does Brexit mean for the future of the union?

To mark five years since the end of the referendum, the Institute for Government brought together people who were either involved in, or had front-row seats to, this remarkable period in British politics.

On the panel were:

• Katy Balls, Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator
• Luke Graham, former MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, 2017-19, and former head of the Union Unit in No.10
• Lord McDonald of Salford, former Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2015-20
• Lisa O’Carroll, Brexit Correspondent at The Guardian

The event was chaired by Maddy Thimont Jack, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

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Join the Institute for Government Brexit team for a canter through the five years since the Referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU took place. Who was a better negotiator, Theresa May or Boris Johnson? Was the Civil Service ready for the task of delivering Brexit? Has Parliament recovered from all the rebellions and procedural high-jinks? And what will Brexit really mean for the future of the United Kingdom?

Join the IfG’s Jill Rutter, Maddy Thimont-Jack, Jess Sargeant and Joe Marshall – along with some intriguing predictions from the IfG audio archives – to get the Brexit podcast done. Presented by Sam Macrory

Audio Production by Candice McKenzie

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Since the 2019 General Election, “levelling up” has been the Government’s go-to slogan. The Queen’s Speech set out an ambition to “level up opportunities across all parts of the UK”, the Chancellor unveiled a levelling up fund, the PM appointed a levelling up adviser, and the promise to level up featured heavily during the recent Hartlepool by-election. But what does levelling up actually mean? How does the Government intend to turn this slogan into reality? How can voters judge the success – or not – of the levelling up agenda at the next election?

The Institute for Government is delighted to bring together an expert panel to discuss past efforts at distributing investment, creating job opportunities and increasing productivity, and to assess whether Boris Johnson’s levelling up agenda will see the Conservatives hold on to electoral gains in the so-called Red Wall constituencies.

On the panel are:

• John Godfrey, Corporate Affairs Director at Legal & General and former Head of Policy at No.10 (2016–17)
• Lord Mandelson, Chairman of Global Counsel and former European Commissioner for Trade and MP for Hartlepool (1992–2004)
• Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former Special Adviser to Theresa May
• Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First and former Education and Innovation Adviser to David Cameron

The event is chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

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As the economy recovers from the pandemic, the government wants to ‘build back better’ and ‘level up’. Improving public health could play an important role in achieving these objectives. We are a less healthy nation than many of our European neighbours, and there are huge differences in health between more and less prosperous parts of the UK. This affects quality of life as well as how productively people can work.

How can public health policy form a part of the levelling up agenda? What is the appropriate role for government and businesses in promoting good public health? What interventions would make a difference and what incentives would help people to get healthier?

To discuss these questions and more, we are delighted to bring together an expert panel featuring:

• Jo Bibby, Director of Health at the Health Foundation
• Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Professor of Epidemiology at University College London, Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity and Past President of the World Medical Association
• Nigel Wilson, Group Chief Executive at Legal & General
• Tina Woods, Founder and CEO of Collider Health and CEO and co-founder of Longevity International

The event is chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, with an introduction by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

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The Institute for Government is delighted to bring together two of the UK’s most experienced former diplomats for a discussion on the future of Global Britain. Lord Ricketts has held the posts of permanent secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, National Security Adviser and UK Ambassador to France. Sir Peter Westmacott’s distinguished career has included stints as the UK’s Ambassador to the United States, France and Turkey. They discuss Britain’s foreign policy priorities and how they can be achieved, the many international challenges and dilemmas facing the UK, and what Global Britain really means – plus their newly published books: Hard Choices: What Britain Does Next by Peter Ricketts and They Call It Diplomacy: Forty Years Of Representing Britain Abroad by Peter Westmacott.

Peter Ricketts and Peter Westmacott are in conversation with the IfG's Director, Bronwen Maddox.

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Michael Gove has unveiled a grandly-titled document called the “Declaration of Government Reform”. So what’s it all about? There’s a plan to move more than 20,000 civil servants out of London, but also plenty of detail on civil servants’ pay, performance, and accountability. Will the reforms make a difference? We’ve pressed the emergency podcast alarm, and dialled up guest Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, to work out what it all means, and whether any of it will work.

With Alex Thomas, Cath Haddon, and Tim Durrant. Audio production by Candice McKenzie

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Boris Johnson has announced that a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will start next year. Following the publication of our paper, which set out the case for an inquiry and how it should be run, this Institute for Government event discussed how the inquiry can succeed.

How can the inquiry ensure important issues aren't missed and findings are delivered in a reasonable time? What is the role of parliament and the public in shaping the purpose of the inquiry and ensuring that the government follows up on its findings? Who should lead the inquiry and what type of person should sit on its panel?

Discussing these questions were:

• Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor of War Studies at King’s College London and committee member for the Chilcot Inquiry
• Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund
• Sir Bernard Jenkin, Chair of the House of Commons Liaison Committee
• Layla Moran, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus 

The event was chaired by Marcus Shepheard, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

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The legacy of Richard, Viscount Haldane can be seen across modern Britain. But why has modern Britain forgotten the many and wide-ranging accomplishments of this philosopher-statesman?

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Campbell, author of Haldane: The Forgotten Statesman Who Shaped Modern Britain, and Sir Anthony Seldon, historian and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, to discuss his life and legacy.

Richard Haldane created the Territorial Army and the British Expeditionary Force and was a key player in the formation of MI5, MI6, and the RAF. In academia, he played a big part in founding and developing the LSE, Imperial College, the ‘redbrick’ universities, and the Medical Research Council. His work in science and research with the University Grants Committee was catalytic in British university life, and his name is still frequently invoked in the "Haldane principle" – that the aims of research should be separate from government direction – although the principle and indeed the attribution to him are still hotly debated. A formidable lawyer and philosopher, who rose to be Lord Chancellor, he was the first incumbent of that office to advocate an independent Supreme Court.

In a conversation chaired by Bronwen Maddox, the Director of the Institute for Government, John Campbell and Sir Anthony Seldon discussed Haldane's influence on the past and present. John Campbell, who describes himself as a lifelong admirer of Haldane, is also co-founder and chair of Campbell Lutyens, an international private equity and infrastructure advisory house.

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The future of EU citizens living in the UK was one of the big sticking points of the Brexit talks. In the 2019 Withdrawal Agreement, the UK agreed to establish an Independent Monitoring Authority to oversee the protections of the rights of EU citizens living in the UK before the end of the transition period.

What are the IMA’s priorities? What are its concerns? What progress has been made and what are the key challenges ahead?

Five months after the IMA’s launch, and with the 30 June deadline for EU citizens to register for settled, or pre-settled, status fast approaching, the IfG was pleased to welcome the new IMA chair and members of its senior team for a wide-ranging discussion on the IMA’s vital role.

Our panel

• Sir Ashley Fox, Chair of the Independent Monitoring Authority
• Kate Chamberlain, Chief Executive of the Independent Monitoring Authority
• Pam Everett, Director of Operational Delivery at the Independent Monitoring Authority
• Rhys Davies, General Counsel at the Independent Monitoring Authority 

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

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Crucial elections took place across the UK on 6 May. The result in Scotland could have huge consequences for the UK's future. The election in Wales is the most unpredictable since devolution. And across England, voters have elected the mayors of London and other English cities, 39 police and crime commissioners and several thousand councillors. The impact on the national political debate could be significant.

To make sense of the results and analyse what they mean, the Institute for Government held a special post-election expert discussion.

What will the votes mean for the major parties? How will the result in Scotland affect the independence question? What comes next in the devolution debate? And what will the mayors of the big English cities do with their powers?

Our panel:

• Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor at The Times
• Professor Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy at the Wales Governance Centre, University of Cardiff
• Professor Tony Travers, Professor in Practice in the Department of Government, London School of Economics
• Jess Sargeant, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

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The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome the three newly appointed leaders of data, digital and technology in government. Paul Willmott, Chair of the Central Digital and Data Office, Joanna Davinson, Executive Director of the Central Digital and Data Office, and Tom Read, Chief Executive Officer of the Government Digital Service, was in conversation with Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

The Central Data and Digital Office was established earlier this year, and its work will complement that of the Government Digital Service, which is approaching its tenth anniversary. The event explored Paul, Joanna and Tom’s visions for the next phase of digital delivery and transformation in government, and their respective priorities for the coming year.

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The Institute for Government would like to thank Oracle for kindly supporting this event.​

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The coronavirus crisis has seen many organisations from many sectors work together in their responses. These include government departments, local authorities, NHS trusts, police forces, charities and community groups. But while there are many examples of successful collaboration and coordination, it has varied substantially in different parts of the country, and across and between national and local government.

So what lessons can be learnt for future crises? Have some parts of national or local government responses worked more effectively than others? What is the cost of not getting this right? And what are the appropriate roles and responsibilities for different organisations in a crisis?

Our panel to discuss these issues were:

• Mike Adamson, CEO of the British Red Cross
• Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers
• Jacqui Smith, Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham and former Home Secretary
• Robin Tuddenham, CEO of Calderdale Council and Co-Chair of West Yorkshire Prepared

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, the EU Ambassador to the UK.

The start of the post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU has been marked by tensions over vaccine distribution and the Northern Ireland protocol. But these are also issues where close co-operation is needed. How should the UK and the EU work together to implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol? What are the other areas of shared interest ahead of the G7 summit and United Nations climate conference? What can be done to improve relations between the EU and the UK post-Brexit?

To discuss these questions and more, João Vale de Almeida was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.

João Vale de Almeida previously served as the EU Ambassador to the United Nations 2015-19 and the EU Ambassador to the US 2010-14.

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From court hearings to GP appointments, education to social care, the coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on the way public services are delivered. Years of innovation have taken place in a matter of months, with many of the most successful changes developed locally and by frontline staff.

So what can central government do to embed, support and successfully scale up these new approaches in public services delivery? What tools does Whitehall need to facilitate transformational change across the public sector and how can the public sector collaborate with other sectors to achieve a shared goal? What role can recent changes play in the recovery from the pandemic? And what lessons can be learnt from the way changes have been introduced in response to the pandemic?

On our panel to discuss these issues were:

• Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of NHS Confederation
• Dr Henry Kippin, Director of Economic Growth at North of Tyne Combined Authority
• Kirsty McNeill, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children
• Chris Clements, Director at Social Finance

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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The arrival of Covid-19 forced parliament to innovate rapidly and experiment with new ways of working. These had a dramatic impact on the way MPs and peers did their jobs – with implications for the effectiveness and inclusivity of our legislature. What innovations should be kept, what should be dropped and who should decide?

This event brought together an expert panel to discuss these important questions.

• Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford
• Matthew Hamlyn, Strategic Director, Chamber Business Team at House of Commons
• Philip Norton (Lord Norton of Louth), Professor of Government at the University of Hull and President of the Study of Parliament Group

The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

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Following the publication of What Does Jeremy Think?: Jeremy Heywood and the Making of Modern Britain, Lady Suzanne Heywood joins IfG director Bronwen Maddox for a fascinating discussion about the life and career of the former Cabinet Secretary.

Suzanne Heywood discusses her late husband’s experiences at the heart of government alongside four prime ministers, his views on the civil service, and how he navigated the uncharted territory of the Brexit referendum and its tumultuous fall-out. With the Greensill saga rocking British politics, she also discusses Jeremy Heywood’s thinking behind bringing Lex Greensill into government, and why he believed the private sector can play a vital role in improving the way government works.

Suzanne Heywood was married to Jeremy Heywood from 1997 until his death in 2018. She worked as a civil servant in the Treasury and for McKinsey and Company before joining Exor in 2016. The biography What does Jeremy Think?: Jeremy Heywood and the making of Modern Britain, began as a joint effort between Jeremy and Suzanne. It was published earlier this year.

Audio production by Candice McKenzie

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Three centuries have passed since Robert Walpole became the first prime minister of Great Britain. The context of government has changed enormously, but aspects of the role remain the same. Of the 55 people who held the post some achieved greatness, some struggled with circumstances, others failed dismally. 

So what is the key to being a successful prime minister? How does Boris Johnson compare to his predecessors? And does the job itself need a fundamental makeover?

A fascinating new IFG LIVE discussion looks back on 300 years of prime ministers, and explores the pressures and pitfalls of being at the top of the political greasy pole.