IfG LIVE – Discussions with the Institute for Government

In contrast to the halting approach to reform from the current UK government, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have moved fast to slash staff and programmes. That has led some of those frustrated with the slow pace of government reform in the UK and elsewhere to see DOGE as a model for radical reformers.    But what are the actual benefits – and costs – of the Trump administration approach? Is there anything to be learnt from DOGE, or is the whole approach misconceived? And what is the better, feasible model for reformers who want to deliver change at rapid pace while avoiding the DOGE template?     To explore these questions and more, the IfG was pleased to bring together an expert panel featuring:   Munira Mirza, former Director of the No.10 Policy Unit Don Moynihan, Professor of Public Policy, Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan Jeni Tennison, founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data Alex Thomas, Civil Service Programme Director at the Institute for Government   The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state.   The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spoke on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions.   This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans.   Part 1 includes: Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government   Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government   Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government   Part 2 includes: Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government    Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government   This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute's 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government's first year in office and the prime minister's agenda to reform public services and rewire the state.   The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spoke on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury's speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute's key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions.   This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute's existing research to the government's vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans.   Part 1 includes: Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government   Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government   Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government   Part 2 includes: Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government    Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government   This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Almost 15 years on from the coalition government's white paper Universal Credit: Welfare that Works, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has finally concluded that its overhaul of the benefits systems is nearly complete. A few thousand people are yet to be transferred from tax credits, income support and Jobseeker's Allowance, and a rather larger numbers are still on Employment and Support Allowance, but the DWP is confident of completion by the end of the year. The Universal Credit programme board has been closed down and the department plans to publish its version of “lessons learned” from a programme that was meant to have taken seven years from the white paper but will have taken 15.   So what can this and future governments learn from the delivery of this major reform programme? How was the Universal Credit project turned around from near disaster in 2013?  And, as it nears completion, what is the impact of Universal Credit?   To explore these questions and more, the IfG was delighted to bring together an expert panel featuring:   Neil Couling, the Senior Responsible Owner for Universal Credit for a decade until March this year Tom Loosemore, Co-founder of Public Digital and Co-author of Nesta's report on how to transform government services Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Tom Waters, Associate Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies   The event was chaired by Nicholas Timmins, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and author of the IfG's 2016 report Universal Credit: From Disaster to Recovery? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has said that “nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state” is needed for the public sector – and in particular the civil service – to deliver the government's agenda. So what should this transformation look like – and how can it be made to last?   As the government's former lead Non-Executive Director, Michael Jary CBE worked closely with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Cabinet Secretary, the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, as well as other senior civil servants across government, and has an unparalleled view on what works in Whitehall – and beyond – and what needs to change. In a speech at the IfG, he set out his views on what needs to change – and how this change can be embedded throughout the civil service – before taking part in a panel conversation.   Alongside Michael, we were be joined by: Josie Cluer, Partner, People Advisory Services at Ernst & Young LLP Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Quin, former Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office   The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elections were held across England on 1 May, with votes cast for four regional mayors, in 24 of England's 317 councils and to decide the new MP for Runcorn and Helsby. So who are England's newly-elected mayors and what might they do with the power they wield? What impact will the elections have on the Labour government's devolution agenda? And what happens next with its plans to reorganise local government across England?    To explore these questions and more, the IfG was delighted to bring together an expert panel featuring:   Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Sarah Routley, Research Assistant at the Institute for Government   The webinar was chaired by Akash Paun, Devolution Programme Director at the Institute for Government.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Productivity in public services has never been more important. Most services are struggling to return to pre-pandemic performance levels, and the new Labour government has indicated that spending will remain tight. Improvements in performance will likely come from frontline workers finding new, innovative ways of delivering services.    So what can be done to improve productivity? By highlighting outstanding examples of innovation across public services, Productivity Pitches, a series of events hosted by the IfG, aims to share and support ways to improve performance levels.   This event was the sixth in the series and focused on central government.   Each speaker had 10 minutes to present their innovation, followed by 10 minutes of audience questions. The chair and a guest from The Productivity Institute – which is kindly supporting this event series – brought together the common themes from the pitches and discussed the lessons for improving productivity.   The speakers for this edition of Productivity Pitches were:    Brice Dassy and Dominic Lague on how the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has recently started using the Cabinet Office-developed Government Reporting Integration Platform (GRIP) to simplify and speed up the data collection and sharing process for major projects, providing ministers with more timely and relevant information than under the previous system. Neil Lloyd on The National Underground Asset Register (NUAR), the first centralised record of all assets that are buried under the ground. When fully implemented, the NUAR will save a range of government agencies time and money when carrying out vital road works and other construction projects. Freya Pinks and Laurie Thraves on the launch of The National Situation Centre (SitCen), which was established to collate up to date data and information in one place. Their dashboards allow policy makers to assess risk and respond quickly in the case of a national emergency or crisis. (This presentation is not included in the recording above) The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government. Institute for Government. Bart van Ark, the Managing Director of The Productivity Institute, joined the discussion of common themes.   Productivity Pitches is kindly supported by The Productivity Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The IfG was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to set out how smarter decision-making methods in government can reduce waste and deliver for the taxpayer.   In a speech at the IfG, Darren Jones set out his plans to reform government financial systems to achieve better strategic financial decision making going forward. This comes after the prime minister last week announced plans to reshape the way the British state delivers and serves working people by becoming more tech-driven, productive, agile and mission focused.   Darren Jones was then in conversation with IfG Chief Economist Gemma Tetlow and took part in an audience Q&A.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Institute for Government webinar brought instant expert analysis of the prime minister's plans to radically overhaul the British state.   Ahead of his speech, Keir Starmer told officials he wants to unshackle them from bureaucracy to stop their talent being "constrained”, and to create an “agile, mission-focused and more productive” civil service.   But planned job cuts across the civil service and a clampdown on quangos and regulators have seen the government's reform blueprint dubbed “Operation Chainsaw” – echoing Elon Musk's DOGE plans for reforming the US government.   So what is in the PM's plan? What will it mean for delivering Labour's missions and its milestones? What should civil servants expect in the coming weeks and months? And how can Whitehall leaders best put the government's reform agenda into action?   To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including:   Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer commissioned a number of high-profile reviews into difficult policy areas on taking office, but the prime minister seems to have become more sceptical about their value in recent weeks.   At this event, to mark the launch of a new IfG report on lessons from past policy reviews, a panel of former reviewers and commissioners of reviews explored when reviews can lead to real change – and what needs to be done to ensure they succeed.     When is it the right time to launch a review? How should ministers best set up, work with and respond to reviews? And has the prime minister changed his view of reviews – and, if so, why?   Discussing these questions, and more, were:    Rt Hon Ed Balls, former Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Special Adviser at HM Treasury (and commissioner of several reviews) Dame Carol Black, leader of multiple past reviews, including: the Review of Drugs (2021), Drug and Alcohol Addiction, and Obesity: effects on employment outcomes review (2016), Health at Work Review (2011) and Working for a Healthier Tomorrow Review (2008) Dame Tracey Crouch, former Minister for Sport and Civil Society and Chair of the Fan-led Review of Football Governance (2021) Sir Howard Davies, Chair of the Airports Commission (2012–15)   The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The IfG was pleased to welcome Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, who delivered a keynote speech on how the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) plans to use its expanding powers and spending freedoms.   From April 2025, Greater Manchester will be funded by a new ‘integrated settlement' that gives the mayor and other local leaders far greater control of spending in areas such as transport, skills, employment and housing. In his speech, Andy Burnham set out his vision for how these powers should be used to drive growth and improve outcomes for people across the region, and what further powers should be devolved.   Andy Burnham was then in conversation with IfG Devolution Programme Director Akash Paun and took questions from the media and public audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new public sector Probation Service was created in 2021 to unify the outsourced management of low- and medium-risk offenders with the public sector management of high-risk offenders.   While the initial transition went well, four years on probation still faces deep structural challenges – as do other public services. The government is committed to public service reform and a ‘mission-driven' approach, but it is not yet clear what this will look like.   So what can the government learn about improving public service reform from probation insourcing? What are the implications for Labour's strategic review of probation governance? And what comes next for the probation service?   To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including:   Professor Harry Annison, Co-Investigator of Rehabilitating Probation Research Project, and Professor of Criminal Justice at Southampton Law School Helen Berresford, Director of External Engagement at Nacro Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Martin Jones CBE, HM Chief Inspector of Probation   The event was chaired by Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.   This event was kindly supported by Rehabilitating Probation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government's flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its ability to deliver Labour's missions, even with an increased headcount and a relentless pressure for greater efficiency and productivity   Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden have shown a welcome enthusiasm for Whitehall reform – including a commitment to a “test and learn” mindset and “mission boards” – but little will change until long-running civil service challenges, like excessive staff turnover and falling morale, are resolved.   This webinar – the third in a three-part series focusing on the report's findings – examined the relationship between civil service pay and the shift in grade structure since 2010, as well as trends in officials' morale.   The webinar featured:   Teodor Grama, Research Assistant at the Institute for Government Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2025   The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This special event to mark International Women's Day, saw Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, discuss the modernisation of Parliament and how the Modernisation Committee can help make the House more accessible, effective and inclusive. Lucy Powell has served as the MP for Manchester Central since 2012 and became Leader of the House after the 2024 election. In this role, she represents the government in Parliament and Parliament in government. She is also a member of the House of Commons Commission, which oversees the administration of the House, and chairs the Modernisation Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government's flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its ability to deliver Labour's missions, even with an increasing headcount and a relentless pressure for greater efficiency and productivity   Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden have shown a welcome enthusiasm for Whitehall reform – including a commitment to a “test and learn” mindset and “mission boards” – but little will change until long-running civil service challenges, like excessive staff turnover and falling morale, are resolved.   This webinar – the second in a three-part series focusing on the report's findings – examined civil service recruitment practices and discuss what is driving the staff turnover levels across Whitehall.   The webinar featured:   Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Liz Tolcher, Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2025   The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.   We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting both this event and Whitehall Monitor 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Labour government wants mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) to play a leading role in delivering faster economic growth – so what can ministers do to help MCAs achieve success in this mission?     With an expanding set of devolved transport, skills, housing and planning powers, MCAs are well-placed to drive regional growth – but success is not a given. To capitalise on their potential, MCAs need effective decision-making structures, sufficient institutional capacity, and strong accountability mechanisms.   The government's devolution white paper sets out proposals to reform the capacity, accountability, and decision-making processes of MCAs, but do these reforms go far enough? What are the potential risks? And what more can the government do to support MCAs to succeed?   To answer these questions, we were joined by:   Amy Harhoff, Chief Executive of the East Midlands Combined County Authority Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Jim McMahon MP, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Laura Shoaf, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority   This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.    Introductory remarks were also be delivered by Robert Breedon, Partner and Co-leader of Government Sector at Gowling WLG.   We would like to thank Gowling WLG for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government's flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its ability to deliver Labour's missions, even with an increased headcount and a relentless pressure for greater efficiency and productivity   Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden have shown a welcome enthusiasm for Whitehall reform – including a commitment to a “test and learn” mindset and “mission boards” – but little will change until long-running civil service challenges, like excessive staff turnover and falling morale, are resolved.   This webinar – the first in a three-part series focusing on Whitehall Monitor's findings – examined the size and shape of the civil service, including the growth of Whitehall departments since 2016 and the changing structure and composition of the workforce.   The webinar featured:   Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Liz Tolcher, Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2025   The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.   We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting both this event and Whitehall Monitor 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As part of its mission to make the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7, the government has embarked upon a new industrial strategy. Science and innovation feature prominently, with life sciences identified as holding “enormous potential to drive economic growth and productivity” in the decades ahead. So how can this potential be fulfilled?   The next few months present a window of opportunity for the business sector, expert organisations and government to work together to devise a long-lasting industrial approach. The Institute for Government is convening a panel of experts to discuss how the government can deliver on its science and industrial strategy objectives.   So what can be done to ensure the new industrial strategy can endure when others have not? Where has science and technology helped drive UK economic growth? What should be the balance between directing science and technology explicitly towards driving UK economic growth versus other objectives like boosting health? And what can the UK learn from other countries?    We were joined by:   Johan Kahlström, President & Managing Director UK & Ireland at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Amanda Wolthuizen, Vice-President (Strategic Engagement) and Chief of Staff to the President at Imperial College London   The event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.   This event was kindly supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With an aim of delivering ‘simpler, more sustainable local government structures, alongside a transfer of power out of Westminster through devolution', the government has formally invited proposals for local government reorganisation from all two-tier and small neighbouring unitary authorities in England.   Delivering this ambitious agenda will be complex, time-consuming and challenging as local authorities continue to deliver services against a backdrop of financial sustainability and workforce pressures.   So what are the benefits and risks of moving from two-tier to unitary local government? What does past experience teach us about how to successfully reorganise local government? What level of support from the government is needed to aid areas undergoing change? And how might reorganisation help to achieve the government's devolution ambitions?   To answer these questions and more, this IfG event brought together an expert panel, including:    Eve Roodhouse, Director of Strategy and Policy at the Local Government Association Becky Shaw, Chief Executive of East Sussex County Council Adrian Smith, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire County Council Phillip Woolley, Partner, Head of Public Sector Consulting at Grant Thornton UK LLP   The event was chaired by Dr Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.    We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has promised to introduce legislation to parliament – before this April's anniversary of the Hillsborough football stadium disaster – that would extend a statutory duty of candour to public authorities and officials.   Starmer hopes that the new Hillsborough law, which will require government organisations and officials to be truthful and to proactively co-operate with investigations and inquiries, will “address the unacceptable defensive culture prevalent across too much of the public sector” exposed in the Infected Blood, Post Office Horizon and too many other inquiries.   But how widely will the duty be applied? How can it work alongside other statutory duties such as in the civil service code? What lessons can be taken from the legal duty of candour that has existed, with mixed effect, in the NHS for over 10 years?   To discuss these outstanding questions about the scope and remit of the proposed legislation, and explore how this new duty of candour could help embed a culture of transparency from SW1 to the frontline, we were joined by an expert panel:   Sir Robert Francis KC, Interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority Liz Gardiner, CEO of Protect Pete Weatherby KC, Director of Hillsborough Law Now Campaign   The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Head of the UK Civil Service Policy Profession, is clear that generalist skills are essential but questions whether it is time to move away from generalists as roles sitting outside of professions. Tamara set out current plans for the Policy Profession, which provides a professional home and career anchor for former generalists, and how it is providing a framework for building and improving skills. This was followed by a discussion about how to build the skills they need and how to embed professional expertise in the policy-making process. For this discussion we were delighted to be joined by: Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary at Defra and Head of the Civil Service Policy Profession Aaron Maniam, Fellow of Practice and Director, Digital Transformation Education at the Blavatnik School of Government Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation The panel was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Decarbonising the power system by 2030 and accelerating to net zero is one of Labour's five key missions. But this extremely ambitious target means moving much faster than the previous government managed. So how much progress has the Labour government already made, and what more could it do to speed up delivery? The government's first weeks in office saw it remove restrictions on onshore wind farms and put GB Energy and the National Wealth Fund into motion. So what impact have these actions had? What other steps could the government take to accelerate its missions?  And with controversial announcements such as a third runway at Heathrow, what are the potential pitfalls to look out for, both to achieving the clean power mission and then accelerating to net zero? To answer these questions and more, this IfG event brought together an expert panel, including: Rosa Hodgkin, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Fintan Slye, CEO of the National Energy System Operator Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control for Clean Power 2030 Dhara Vyas, CEO of Energy UK The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Sir Chris Wormald starts his new job as cabinet secretary, two panels – one from Singapore – brought together civil service leaders from other countries to explore how they approached the job and what the UK could learn from their experiences.   Speaking at the IfG:  Pamela Dow, Chief Operating Officer at Civic Future and a former UK civil servant Leslie Evans, Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government 2015-2021 Martin Fraser, Ambassador of Ireland to the UK, Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach 2011–22   Chaired by Alex Thomas, IfG programme director   And with an expert panel at the Global Government Summit in Singapore:    Heather Baggott, Deputy Public Service Commissioner, Public Service Commission, New Zealand Siobhan Benita, Global Government Forum Chair Lord Gus O'Donnell, UK Cabinet Secretary 2005-2011 Taimar Peterkop, Secretary of State, Government Office, Estonia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two of England's elected mayors join an expert panel to explore how well mayors are working with central government – and what powers they need. Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands Chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Local government has faced huge financial pressures, leaving residents across England struggling to access services. Featuring presentations from council leaders, this panel explored what can be done to turn around performance.    Presentations from: Jenny Rowlands, Chief Executive of Camden Council Claire Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Sheffield City Council   Panel: Hilary Cottam, author, innovator and change maker and Honorary Professor at the Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose at UCL Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Minister for Local Government and English Devolution) Chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the spending review approaches, IfG experts – along with senior fellow Sam Freedman – explored how the government can best use its missions – and milestones – to shape its spending choices. Nehal Davison, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No other party leader enjoyed themselves as much as Ed Davey did during the 2024 general election campaign. Rollercoasters, paddleboards, slides – the list goes on.  And then general election night was full of cheer for the Lib Dems too – with the party winning a record number of seats and reclaiming its status as Westminster's third biggest party.  But how can those 72 MPs actually have an impact on a government with a huge majority? And how can the Lib Dems use parliament to scrutinise legislation and shape policy?   Deputy Lib Dem leader Daisy Cooper's speech was followed by a Q&A with IfG deputy director Emma Norris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How have the Conservative party adapted to opposition? What lessons has it taken from its 14 years in power – and its big defeat at the general election? And what is it thinking about the way government should work – and could work better? Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart was in conversation with Hannah White. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An exclusive poll for the IfG has revealed just how people are thinking about this Labour government, how optimistic they are about Keir Starmer's policies working, and what issues are giving them most concern. So what does this all say about how the government has performed since taking office and what challenges and opportunities might the year ahead hold?   Joe Twyman, Director of Deltapoll Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal at the Progressive Policy Institute Anushka Asthana, Deputy Political Editor at ITV News Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation Chaired by IfG deputy director Emma Norris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world was watching as Donald Trump returned to the White House. So what clues did his inauguration speech give us about his plans for the presidency? How should Keir Starmer handle this most unpredictable of leaders? And how might British politics be shaped decisions and statemens made in Washington?   Mark Landler (New York Times' London Bureau Chief) Dr Leslie Vinjamuri (Director of the US and Americas programme at Chatham House) Chaired by IfG programme director Catherine Haddon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The government's devolution white paper – published on 16 December – sets out the detail of Labour's promised ‘devolution revolution'. Ministers plan to further empower England's existing 12 metro mayors, to extend devolution to the whole of England, and to reorganise local government.    But what exactly will the white paper commit the government to do? Which powers will be devolved, to where? How will mayors be involved in delivering the government's growth, energy and public service missions? How will the proposed reforms to local government work? And what challenges lie ahead for the government in implementing this ambitious agenda?   The Institute for Government's online expert briefing on 18 December discussed the answers to these questions and more.   The panel: Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The government has set out its intention to support the civil service with the necessary tools to deliver for the public. As the IfG has argued, reforms to improve the capability of the civil service are needed – particularly in a tight fiscal situation where efficient and effective government is essential. We believe there are a variety of areas for attention. These include reducing staff churn, improving external recruitment, and seizing the opportunities of new technology.   How is the civil service planning to address these questions while supporting the government's agenda and delivering the prime minister's promise to build a ‘government of service'? How can issues, like pay and lower morale, be addressed? And what will the civil service look like in 2030?   We were delighted to host Cat Little, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, to discuss these questions and more. She was in conversation with IfG Director and CEO Dr Hannah White.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thirty years ago, following a series of high-profile political scandals, John Major set up the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) to advise him – and future prime ministers – on ethics and behaviour. So has the CSPL been a success – and what might come next for standards in public life? Over the last three decades the committee has been an influential voice on the standards expected of people in public office, including setting out the seven principles of public life that apply to politicians, public officials and frontline staff and the establishment of standards regulators including the parliamentary commissioner and the Electoral Commission. However, recent scandals like ‘partygate' and controversies over the acceptance of gifts, alongside reports from the infected blood and Grenfell inquiries, demonstrate that work on embedding transparency and ethical behaviour remains unfinished. How can the committee respond to challenges posed by increased use of AI in the public sector? What more could be done to build greater trust in politicians and public services? And what difference could the Labour government's planned Ethics and Integrity Commission make? To answer these questions, and more, we were joined by: • Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life • Pippa Crerar, Political Editor at The Guardian • Daniel Greenberg CB, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards • Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister (DFM) of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, for an 'in conversation' event on 18 November 2024. The DFM reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum and the 25th anniversary of Scottish devolution. She also discussed the state of Scotland's economy and public services in light of the UK budget, and the Scottish government's policy and legislative agenda. The DFM was in conversation with Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution, which was followed by Q&A with the live and online audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new government has put prevention at the heart of public service reform plans. So what difference could this approach make? By intervening sooner, problems may not escalate, become embedded, or arise in the first place – meaning preventative services could be a major contributor to public sector productivity.   With spending likely to be tight over the coming years, the theory behind an "invest to save" scheme is clear – but in practice it has been hard to implement, and cashable savings have often proved elusive.   This event brought together a panel of experts to discuss:   Is it realistic to expect preventative programmes to deliver cashable savings? How quickly could a shift towards a more preventative approach improve public service productivity? What are the respective roles of the centre of government, departments, and frontline services in delivering this shift and realising productivity improvements? How can additional investments be made in prevention when acute demand is high and spending tight?   To discuss these questions and more, our panel included:   Dr Thomas Waite, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Cllr Gillian Ford, Deputy Leader of Havering Council, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health Daniel Sperrin, Partner at Newton Moira Wallace, former Permanent Secretary   The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   We would like to thank Newton for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Labour government has inherited an NHS in crisis. Pre-existing challenges of growing demand, an ageing population, and high levels of staff vacancies have been exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in record backlogs and waiting times.   With substantial increases in hospital funding and staffing failing to turn performance round, the new government must help the NHS through the immediate crisis, set it on a sustainable long-term footing and consider the need for more fundamental reform.   Should the NHS focus more on preventing, rather than treating, illness? Could the NHS become more local? Are the new Integrated Care Systems working or should they be reformed? How successful have past NHS reforms been?   To answer these questions and more we were joined by an expert panel, including: Paul Corrigan, Expert adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care Penny Dash, Chair of NHS North West London Integrated Care Board Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First Thomas Cawston, Corporate Affairs Lead at Novartis UK   The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   This event was kindly supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices