Institute for Government

To conclude our conference on the Nolan Principles, our panel discussed the impact of the Nolan Principles in public life today. How have they changed the standards landscape in the UK? What do the public think about standards in public life? How useful are standards and principles to leaders in government? And how can a strong standards system support a government's wider objectives? Speakers: Doug Chalmers, chair, Committee on Standards in Public Life Chris Morris, CEO, Full Fact Sachin Savur, researcher, Institute for Government Rowena Mason, Whitehall Editor at the Guardian This session was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government. This event was part of the IfG's conference on the The Nolan Principles at 30: What does the future hold for standards in public life?

Many of the public's interactions with the state are with frontline officials in health and social care, policing and local government. How much do the Nolan principles resonate with those delivering public services? How can frontline officials be supported to make ethical decisions? And how can frontline organisations prevent failures, and rebuild public trust where they occur? Speakers: Neil Basu, former Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Helen Buckingham, Chair of National Voices Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman This session was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

To reflect on the topics raised during our conference on the Nolan Principles, the IfG and CSPL convened small group discussions to talk through more specific questions: What are the emerging threats and opportunities in the standards landscape? How do politics and partisanship affect the way standards are perceived? What does ethical public service leadership look like? Those joining online were able to take part in a webinar discussion on the same topics. A panel of IfG and CSPL staff reported back on the themes raised in the discussions.

Chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was part of the IfG's conference on the The Nolan Principles at 30: What does the future hold for standards in public life?

Chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was part of the IfG's conference on the The Nolan Principles at 30: What does the future hold for standards in public life?

After 30 years of the Nolan Principles, ethical scandals – from partygate to freebiegate – are still a regular feature of UK political life and public trust in politicians remains low. What role do politicians play in leading by example? How should politicians in Westminster, devolved and local governments demonstrate their commitment to the Nolan Principles? How can they show ethical leadership within their organisations? And what does upholding standards look like in different political and governmental contexts? Speakers: Paula Barker MP, member of the Commons Select Committee on Standards Roger Gough, former leader of Kent County Council Dr Melissa McCullough, Commissioner for Standards, NI Assembly Dave Penman, General Secretary, FDA This session will be chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

In 1995, the prime minister's ethics adviser Lord Nolan set out the Seven Principles of Public Life. Since then, the Nolan Principles have been the basis for the ethical standards expected of those working in the public sector, from the prime minister to civil servants to police officers – but from the expenses scandal to 'partygate', and ethical failings in the NHS, police forces and local government, standards in public life have been repeatedly under scrutiny over the last 30 years. So how have the Nolan Principles shaped public life over the last 30 years? What do ethical standards mean for the way frontline officials interact with the public? How might emerging trends like technology help or hinder public office-holders to act ethically? And as faith in politics falls and public debate coarsens, how can politicians uphold high standards of behaviour? To mark the 30th anniversary of the Nolan Principles, and to explore how ethical standards can be upheld in the future, the IfG will bring together a series of expert panels and keynote speakers – including former prime minister The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH – for a thought-provoking and stimulating one-day conference. This recording includes an introduction from Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the IfG, and Doug Chalmers, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life Keynote speech: Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH. Chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the IfG.

Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle are never far away in Westminster. So how should Keir Starmer approach the delicate task of choosing his top team? The prime minister has to strike a balance between ministers' performance, party management and the government's policy agenda, while being a minister is a job like no other – there are no regular performance reviews, clear handovers or annual appraisals. So how can ministers succeed in government and reach the cabinet table? What skills do they need at each rung of the ministerial ladder? How can backbench MPs prepare to become a minister? And how does the prime minister make decisions about who should serve in government? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including: Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at The i Paper Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

The 2025 spending review on 11 June is a critical moment for Keir Starmer's government. Almost a year since Labour's general election victory, Rachel Reeves will set budgets for departments up to 2028/29 – which will cover most of the rest of the parliament. But the chancellor is facing difficult choices – and her decisions will reveal a great deal about this government's priorities. Will the spending allocations be sufficient to improve public services, deliver growth and make progress on the government's other missions? Which departments will be pleased – and which will lose out? And will this multi-year spending review reveal a coherent strategy for the government over the next few years? To answer these questions and more, IfG experts convened shortly after the chancellor's announcement to provide their initial analysis. The webinar was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, with a panel including: Nick Davies, Programme Director for Public Services at the Institute for Government Ben Paxton, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

Britain has been through a difficult period since the global financial crisis, leading many to conclude the country is doomed to inevitable decline. But Jeremy Hunt, who was at the top of government as both Foreign Secretary and Chancellor, disagrees. In his new book, Can We Be Great Again?, he sets out to rebut those who think Britain is no longer capable of shaping the world we live in. With the election of president Trump, a world that was already becoming more dangerous has also become more unpredictable. But when it comes to the big challenges facing the world – whether on European security, the future of democracy, migration, trade and climate – the UK remains one of the most influential countries and should, Hunt says, use that influence wisely. Hunt does not shy away from the UK's weaknesses but argues that they should be considered in perspective and without underestimating this country's many strengths. To discuss his new book and the questions it raises, Jeremy Hunt was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

After a decade of tight funding settlements and the Covid-19 pandemic, Wes Streeting is the latest health secretary trying to improve NHS productivity. But what can the government do to ensure the NHS spends its budget – due to be more than £200bn in 2025/26 – more effectively? This event, held in partnership with the Health Foundation, explored what the NHS can do to improve productivity – which is vital to improve the quality of services for patients, ensure the NHS is financially sustainable and provide value for money for taxpayers. What improvements in productivity and health outcomes can technology really deliver? What lessons are there from previous governments' attempts to make efficiency savings? What options does Streeting really have to drive through reforms? What effect – if any – will the abolition of NHS England and cuts to integrated care boards' budgets have on driving productivity to improve performance? To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including: Helen Buckingham, Chair of Trustees at National Voices Anita Charlesworth, Senior Economic Advisor at the Health Foundation Caroline Clarke, Regional Director of the NHS in London Rachel Sylvester, Political Editor at the Observer The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with The Health Foundation.

As part of its devolution agenda, the government is deepening and extending the mayoral model across England. Fourteen regional mayors are now in office, holding powers over transport, skills, housing and planning, economic growth and more. The government eventually wants every region of England to be led by a mayor. But what are the characteristics of effective mayoral leadership? How should existing and new mayors use their powers and their platform to bring benefits to their regions? And what lessons can England's mayors learn from international experience? We held a discussion of these themes, informed by insights from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and its director, Professor Jorrit de Jong, who was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government, and Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution.

The former deputy prime minister set out what this and future governments can learn from the 2010–15 coalition government. To mark the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010, the IfG was pleased to welcome the Rt Hon Sir Nick Clegg to reflect on the 2010-15 government and the lessons for today's politics. Following his speech, Sir Nick was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, and took part in an audience Q&A.

Labour's 2024 manifesto set out a number of big changes aimed at strengthening democratic participation, such as improving voter registration, addressing inconsistencies in voter ID rules and extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds. Twenty-five years after the introduction of the UK's political finance regime, and a billion pounds of donations later, the manifesto also committed to “strengthening the rules around donations to political parties” – something that has become more pressing as high-profile actors flirt with introducing significant sums of money into the UK's party funding system. So what difference would these proposed changes make to the UK electoral system? Can they reignite voter confidence and engagement in the democratic process? What are the lessons learnt from the 2024 general election about turnout, the voter ID requirement, and candidate abuse and intimidation? And what should the government prioritise to ensure the electoral system is ready for the next general election in 2029 and able to address growing threats? To reflect on last summer's election and to discuss how the government's plans will affect the way elections work, we were joined by an expert panel: Lewis Baston, Political journalist and author Matteo Bergamini, Founder and CEO of Shout Out UK Professor Jane Green, Co-Director of the British Election Study John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This event marked official launch of the second edition of Exploring Parliament, a new book which brings together academic insights with real-world perspectives to bring parliament to life for readers. The book's 73 authors – leading academic experts and parliamentary practitioners – offer an unrivalled insider's guide to the UK parliament, providing an accessible yet in-depth exploration of how parliament works, its key functions, and the realities of law-making and scrutiny in the UK. Who are the key players in parliament? How is parliament organised and run? How is the government held to account? How are laws made? And what challenges does parliament face in the future? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by the editors of Exploring Parliament – who made opening remarks, reflecting on the book's unique approach, and a panel of the book's authors who discussed their chapters and insights. This was followed by a Q&A session. Panellists included: Professor Nicholas Allen, Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London Dr Sean Haughey, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool Chloe Mawson, Clerk Assistant at the House of Lords Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Margaret McKinnon, Director Member and Members' Staff Services Team at the House of Commons Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London (UCL) The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Introductory remarks were also delivered by the editors Professor Cristina Leston Bandeira, Dr Louise Thompson and Dr Alexandra Meakin. We would like to thank the Study of Parliament Group for kindly supporting this event.

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.

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, spok 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. 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 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.

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, spok 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. 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 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.

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, spok 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. 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 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.

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, spok 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. 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 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.

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.

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?

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.

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. 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.

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.

The IfG was pleased to welcome Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, to deliver 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.

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.

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.

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. Powell was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @IfGEvents and join the conversation using #industrialstrategy. This event was kindly supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK.

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.

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Rt Hon John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, to discuss his priorities for reforming UK defence. With war in Europe, instability in the Middle East and a new US administration, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has taken centre stage during the Labour government's first six months in power. But with increasing threats, how will the MOD ensure it stays ahead of the UK's adversaries and deliver maximum value for taxpayers? How will it contribute to the government's missions, particularly economic growth? Healey opened the event with brief remarks on his defence reform programme, after which he was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, before taking questions from the audience.

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.

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. This event is part of a research project supported by a grant from the European Climate Foundation.

Productivity in public services has never been more important. Most services are struggling to return to pre-pandemic performance levels, and the government has indicated that spending will be tight from April 2026 onwards. 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 is the fifth in the series and will focus on schools. Each speaker has 10 minutes to present their innovation, followed by 10 minutes of audience questions. The chair and a guest from the Productivity Institute – who are kindly supporting this event series – then brought together the common themes from the pitches and discuss the lessons for improving productivity. The speakers for this edition of Productivity Pitches are: George Barlow, Principal of Belgrave St. Bartholomew's Academy on the outcome of providing every pupil and teacher with a tablet. Steph Hamilton, Director of The Engagement Platform part of the ImpactEd Group which run frequent School Employee surveys that allows schools and MATs to compare their employee satisfaction to peers and use this to improve engagement, satisfaction and retention and Cara Ackroyd, Executive Principal at Outwood Grange Academies Trust. Cara leads on school engagement work across Outwood Grange Academy Trust. The trust have been founding partners of TEP and have integrated the use of the data into their strategy and processes to support outcomes. Lauren Wilson, Head of Marketing and Communications at The Thinking Schools Academy Trust on consolidating communication and marketing functions. Allowing them to standardise their marketing materials and learn what works before rolling it out further. The event will be chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Professor Anna Vignoles, Director of the Leverhulme Trust and Policy Advisor at The Productivity Institute Policy Unit joined to discuss the common themes. Productivity Pitches is kindly supported by The Productivity Institute.

As Sir Chris Wormald starts his new job as cabinet secretary, two panels – one livestreamed 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. With: 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 This panel was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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

Following his speech, Rt Hon Darren Jones MP was in conversation with Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

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

Following her speech, Daisy Cooper MP was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government

As the spending review approaches, this session, featuring IfG 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 This panel was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

Alex Burghart MP was in conversation with Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government

This expert panel assessed how Labour has performed since returning to government, and what challenges – and opportunities – await in 2025. Polling presentation by 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 This panel was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

- Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government - Phillip Woolley, Partner, Head of Public Sector Consulting at Grant Thornton UK LLP