Our new IfG report explores what a better system of employment support for people out of work due to ill health could look like. DWP's centralised approach to date has some strengths, but has limited integration with other services and the innovation needed to better understand what works 🧵
In a first for the IfG, @meganbryer.bsky.social and I have translated two pieces about the upcoming Welsh and Scottish elections into Cymraeg! 1/🧵
6/ Read my full comment here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
And the DevoLab policy briefing it builds on here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
5/ To make the duty count, mayors will need to use existing powers creatively, work closely with local authorities and other regional partners, and – crucially – receive sustained support from central government to build their capacity.
4/But resourcing matters. A new legal duty without accompanying resource will limit what mayors can realistically achieve and risks the duty becoming largely symbolic.
3/ The new duty recognises that existing work and could strengthen it – giving mayors clearer backing to embed health considerations across their policy agendas.
2/ The duty hasn't come out of nowhere. As our DevoLab #1 policy briefing showed, many regions are already taking action on the drivers of ill health – through transport, housing, skills and employment support, alongside programmes with a more explicit health focus.
1/ As the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill nears the end of its passage through Parliament, I reflect on its introduction of a new health duty for mayors. 🧵👇
A Guardian Live blog entry that says: Reeves asks officials to draw up plans for fiscal devolution Boom! Rachel Reeves then tells her audience that she has asked the Treasury to work with mayors and businesses to develop a roadmap for future fiscal devolution. This plan will be published at this year’s budget. It will set out plans to give regional leaders control of a share of some national taxes – which Reeves points out have long been allocated by central governments. It will include income tax, she suggests. The chancellor says these reforms will begin with places which have the greatest capacity to deliver them and the greatest potential to benefit. She insists that it is “not about new taxes, and it’s not about higher tax”, promising “I will not ask taxpayers to pay more”. These reforms will be fiscally neutral, focused on sharing and retaining a portion of existing revenues with the places that generated them, she says. Reeves promises: These reforms will represent a permanent transfer of power and resources, not another exercise in local ambition. Taxpayers will be able to see what is being delivered with their money and hold local leaders to account for the results, she insists. She calls it “a genuine break with the past”, calling it: A generational opportunity for Britain’s regions to make their own future.
A genuinely big announcement on English devolution from Rachel Reeves today!
As we at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk alongside others have argued fiscal devolution was a missing piece of the puzzle in the government's devolution white paper.
An image ad for an Institute for Government event. In conversation with Malcolm Offord, Lord Offord of Garvel, Leader of Reform UK Scotland Monday 16 March 2026, 12:30 — 13:15 (GMT)
TODAY | In conversation with Malcolm Offord, Lord Offord of Garvel, Leader of Reform UK Scotland
Join us live at 12:30 to hear Malcolm Offord discuss Reform UK’s vision for Scotland ahead of the 2026 Scottish parliament election www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/lord-m...
A job ad for a Marketing Executive at the Institute for Government. Salary: £33,000-40,000 per annum Deadline: Sunday 12 April, 23:00
Interested in helping the IfG to achieve wider audience engagement with their work? We are looking for a Marketing Executive to join our communications team.
Applications are open until Sunday 12 April – find our more about the role www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
An image ad for an Institute for Government event. In conversation with Malcolm Offord, Lord Offord of Garvel, Leader of Reform UK Scotland Monday 16 March 2026, 12:30 — 13:15 (GMT)
EVENT | With a few weeks to go before the Scottish parliament election, join us on Monday 16 March for an in conversation with Reform UK leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord.
He will discuss Reform's vision for Scotland with @akashpaun.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/lord-m...
Me, @matthewfright.bsky.social and @meganisaac.bsky.social on another messy u-turn.
Working in the think tank sector Webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector Think tanks are research organisations that develop ideas and suggestions for action on a whole range of subjects affecting society. Using research, analysis and commentary, we aim to inform and influence politicians, policy makers and the public. This event is aimed at people from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups, people with work-limiting health conditions or impairments, young adults with caring responsibilities (including young parents), mature students, people from lower-income backgrounds, care leavers and LGBT+ students. Wednesday 18 February 2026 3:30 pm - 6:05 pm
Thinking of a career in think tanks?
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
We're heading out of London again🐝... Join us on 25 Feb in Manchester (or online) for our fourth #IfGDevoLab as GMCA, WECA and Homes England share what works - real lessons on how mayors can boost the supply of affordable homes 🏡
Great thread from @matthewfright.bsky.social on the government's reversal of the local election delay. Ultimately the right outcome but yet another messy u-turn that's cost time and goodwill.
An image for an IfG event:In conversation with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru Monday 02 March 2026, 12:30 — 13:30 (GMT)
EVENT | In conversation with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru
📆 Mon 2 March, 12:30–13:30
Join us to hear @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social discuss the 2026 Senedd election, his plan for government, and @plaidcymru.bsky.social’s vision for Wales www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...
1/ With only a few months until the May elections, in this new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer we outline where elections are going ahead, where they aren’t, and what’s at stake🧵👇
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...
Big developments for NPR. Gvt has set out a phased £45bn plan to improve rail across the North, starting with upgrades in Yorkshire.
As we highlighted at our DevoLab event, improving regional transport is key for driving growth and opportunity: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
Today at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk we have spent the day looking ahead to the key questions for government in 2026. With crucial elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils in May, what are Kezia Dugdale, Guto Harri, Akash Paun and Luke Tryl looking out for?🧵
Starting soon! Definitely one to tune into
📢NEW REPORT📢
Every year @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sets out the latest on the civil service - size, professions, pay, morale. You name it, we analyse it. This year's report is out today.
If you're interested in state capacity, you should be interested in what's happening in the civil service. 🧵
We are really pleased to announce that our Government 2026 annual conference at the IfG will kick start with a keynote speech by Wes Streeting at 8:30am. He will be in conversation with @drhannahwhite.bsky.social
Join us online:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
An image for an IfG event. Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics? Tuesday 13 January, 13:45 - 14:45 Kezia Dugdale, former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy Guto Harri, Broadcaster and former No.10 Director of Communications Akash Paun, Programme Director (Devolution) at the Institute for Government Luke Tryl, Director of More in Common This session will be chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.
Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics?
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 January when we will discuss with @kezdugdale.bsky.social, Guto Harri, @akashpaun.bsky.social @luketryl.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
1/ Earlier this month, the government indicated that it would postpone the inaugural May 2026 mayoral elections in four areas on the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).
But what is the DPP? Why are these places getting mayors? And why are they undergoing local government reorganisation? 🧵
Great new piece from @akashpaun.bsky.social on the decision to delay next year’s mayoral elections.
“even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...
9/ Our briefing shows that while health isn’t formally devolved, mayors and combined authorities can play a powerful role in tackling inequalities.
Explore our 10 lessons and case studies in full here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
8/ Building wider understanding of health inequalities in a region helps embed successful programmes. The GLA Public Health Unit promotes this through online resources, webinars and masterclasses.
7/ Integration across services is vital but hard. Mayors can help, but success depends local authorities, NHS, schools, the police and others working together. GMCA’s Working Well improves integration with single contact points and local integration plans
6/ Mayors’ convening powers aid cross-sector collaboration. In South Yorkshire, Mayor Oliver Coppard chairs the Integrated Care Partnership, using this role to secure buy-in for the Beds for Babies programme.