Institute for Government

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 f...

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 aut...

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 an...

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 en...

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 a...

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 farm...

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 highlig...

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 Go...

What will the return of Donald Trump to the White House mean for Keir Starmer, the government and British politics? - Mark Landler, London Bureau Chief at The New York Times - Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House This panel was chaired by Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at 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

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...

Alex Burghart MP was in conversation with Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO 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 pa...

Following her speech, Daisy Cooper MP was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director 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, in...

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

The government’s devolution white paper – published on 16 December – will set 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? H...

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,...

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,...

Following weeks of interviews and much speculation, Sir Chris Wormald has been confirmed as the new cabinet secretary. After a long civil service career, including stints as permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education and Skills, Wormald will succeed Simon Case and begin work as the country's most senior civil servant. Keir Starmer has said that...

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 p...

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...

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 crisi...

An in conversation with Rt Hon Michael Gove, Editor of the The Spectator and former Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. This event was part of the IfG's public services conference, kindly supported by UCL.