There's so much to write about everything that's happening with Mandelson vetting fight (and always happy to explain the process, others have done so v well on here). But the v. aggressive approach from no10 is over the weekend is just so damaging - so have tried to capture some of that
This paper represents a small but deeply impressive and genuinely important achievement by the much maligned British state in what is probably the most important global issue of our era.
Hear me out ( 🧵) 1/
www.aisi.gov.uk/blog/our-eva...
We're doing a series of interviews with former PMs (to be published in the coming months!) and one of them said exactly this: the job is so varied, and you can't pick and choose the good bits of the job - you *have* to do them all.
new online paper by @rosahodgkin.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social and me on how govt needs to get a grip of the economic consequences of the Iran war. Needs to stand up coordinating machinery - like Gordon Brown's National Economic Council www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
We’ve previously had SCDC at an event but this is a good idea. Copying in @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social and @akashpaun.bsky.social as I’m currently on shared parental leave
The constant Westminster-based attacks on S. Cambs by Conservatives and Labour are both depressing and incredibly boring
It’s good for councils to try new things!
Evidence suggests the 4 day week scheme has been successful!
If residents don’t like it, they can vote out the Lib Dems next month!
Take your mind off other stuff… with something positive happening in the civil service
Antonia Romeo has set out her objectives, and they’re good!
Tl; dr - to lead a civil service of curious, confident, high performing stewards of the system
Counterpoint: I napped for an hour in a dark room while the the kids were entertained
NEW REPORT: the government claims that it wants public services to be more devolved, better integrated, and more focused on prevention
With a raft of reform programmes now underway in services, are they on track to achieve those aims?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Very striking birds. This chap helpfully posed for me yesterday by the river
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.
It's not just DHSC where morale is plummeting; the HSJ reports that morale declined in every NHS integrated care board that answered the NHS staff survey in 2025
Worth remembering that these are the people who are supposed to deliver Streeting's 3 shifts
www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-r...
So much to change in the civil service. It needs
- a centre of govt that works
- far better performance management
- confidence & curiosity to lean in
- less churn and more reward for sticking around and achieving things
- many more reforms (see all our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk work)
NEW REPORT: The government’s proposed reforms to criminal trials risk tilting the system too far towards speed over fairness and justice, and could lead to further declines in performance and productivity.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Fantastic to see both of the brilliant @emmanorris.bsky.social and @gemmatetlow.bsky.social recognised in this year's Women in Westminster top 100.
Both are incredibly impressive colleagues and I've learnt so much from them. www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...
A quote from Dan Haile, Senior Economist at the Institute for Government. "The chancellor has stuck to her plan for a low-key spring forecast. The UK has been an outlier in chopping and changing fiscal policy so often, but sticking to one major fiscal event a year gives the government more time and space to make better policy decisions."
"...sticking to one major fiscal event a year gives the government more time and space to make better policy decisions."
@danhaile.bsky.social, IfG senior economist, reacts to today's 'low-key' spring forecast.
More analysis to follow soon www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/spring-forec...
This is excellent discussion of the arguments for and against deliverism. I agree with the conclusion that delivery is necessary, but not sufficient, with governments needing to deliver in ways that are 'visible and salient'
The wider point here is that you can only sell assets once. Sales such as these, which many councils are being forced to make, are not a sustainable solution to financial pressure. Likewise drawing down reserves, which an increasing proportion of councils have now been doing for 3 years or more
Everyone is analysing the implications of the byelection for Keir Starmer and Labour but the most important lessons are for democracy - my latest for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gort...
Amazing news! Congrats
Some news on my next book....
www.thebookseller.com/rights/sam-f...
This goes to something @jillongovt.bsky.social taught me soon after I joined IfG - no matter how long something has been discussed and played around with in government, the only test is how it is received in the real world.
Totally agree with this. There's a reason we talk about the problem with one person as 'judge, jury and executioner' - having multiple people involved in these decisions makes them more robust. Striking too that cutting jury trials is proposed hand-in-hand with dramatic *restrictions* on appeals
And I'm sure this gives both of us even more confidence that greater ministerial control will result in more autonomy for the frontline
Aside from question of whether you can meaningfully hold NHS accountable for labour market outcomes, my main issue with this is it’s yet another ‘priority’. Waiting lists, three shifts, structural reform, getting people into work etc. There’s not enough money to do everything. Ministers must choose!
Great thread of unanswered questions about how incentives and accountability will work in the govt’s SEND proposals
In 2016, I was delayed for 5 hours in Bariloche airport due to Obama landing in Airforce One. The combination of Andean views, closeness of the bar to the gate, and dirt cheap/high quality Malbec was unbeatable
For more on the case for place-based budgeting, see this @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report that @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social and I wrote last year
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Great piece. I agree with Reform efficiencies can be made but not via their salami slicing approach. The key is greater collaboration between local services and making best use of the assets within communities. That requires building strong relationships with public/charities/other public bodies
Govt’s proposed SEND reforms contain positive ideas to move the system towards early intervention.
But there are tensions the govt has not yet worked through between investing in these changes quickly and ensuring reforms are fully evidenced.