Interesting - with contribution from @drbenpaxton.bsky.social

Lucy Fisher@lucyfisher.ft.com · yesterday

EXC: UK govt is “stripping back” onerous public procurement rules in pro-growth shake up of system, Louise Haigh tells FT Overhaul will make job creation/skills development the only ‘social value’ requirement for biz competing for Whitehall contracts worth £90bn annually www.ft.com/content/9878...

Burnham’s devo announcements were important and - we think & hope - should improve UK govt But for the love of God let’s not confuse - legislation/direction to give powers to sub-national bodies - reallocation of tax and spend - a *written frigging constitution* www.ft.com/content/72e4...

Burnham says devolution plan paves the way for a written UK constitution

Prime minister’s sweeping powers for local mayors could lead to ‘new principles’ for running England

ft.com

There is an alternative

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 4d ago

Aesthetically, the Apple Watch looks more like a smartphone on my wrist than it does a classic timepiece. Wirecutter went on a mission to find a comfortable, elegant band that turns the Apple Watch into an accessory worth pairing with your finest clothes. nyti.ms/4beguz5

‘Twas I who wrote and sent the letter from Jeremy Heywood that told everyone to stop leaking, that was of course leaked, that became the subject of a leak inquiry www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...

Leak inquiry into leaking of letter warning about leaks

An investigation is under way into the leaking of a letter warning against leaks, No 10 says.

bbc.co.uk

Laura Phillips@lauraphillips.bsky.social · last wk.

‘A letter issued to senior mandarins+ministers this afternoon calls for a "reset" to avoid breaches of government information security. The request came jointly from Louise Haigh, the first secretary of state,+Antonia Romeo, the cabinet secretary.’ 2/

Civil service stats day! Christmas for the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk team @jackworlidge.bsky.social gives us the headlines

Jack Worlidge@jackworlidge.bsky.social · last wk.

The civil service team at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk has been busy today crunching the numbers of the Cabinet Office's annual civil service statistics release... As ever, plenty of interest! Couple of bits below ⬇️

Here’s our piece wrapping up Andy Burnham’s government formation - six things we learned about BurnhamWorld by @rebeccamckee.bsky.social @philipnye.bsky.social @meganbryer.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/six-...

Six things we learned from Andy Burnham’s government formation | Institute for Government

What do Andy Burnham’s cabinet choices reveal about the priorities and direction of his new government?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Cross-party talks are fine-and might be part of a process to sort out social care But Burnham can’t sidestep politics Deciding how to spend billions (or not), & who should win or lose, is the essence of politics From @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

Burnham can’t take the politics out of social care reform | Institute for Government

The new PM will have to prioritise to make progress on social care during this parliament

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

This will be a great webinar with @jillongovt.bsky.social @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social and @tompope.bsky.social - do join us on Thursday and send in the questions you’d like the team to answer…

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · last wk.

EVENT | Andy Burnham: How is the new prime minister changing the direction of government? 📅Thursday 30 July 2026, 13:00-13:50 Join us online as an expert panel assesses Andy Burnham's early decisions, his key appointments, and the way he is approaching the job of prime minister.

I discussed it this week with a few people who know a lot more about how government works than me: @hannahkeenan.bsky.social, @akashpaun.bsky.social and @alexgathomas.bsky.social bsky.app/profile/rebe... @instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Rebecca McKee@rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 2w ago

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Inside Briefing podcast episode out now! With @manchestermill.bsky.social @joshih.bsky.social on Andy Burnham's first week as prime minister. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/collection/p...

I implore you to read the not-so-small-print (Although this is still a sensible direction! It’s a good story without going all Elizabeth I)

Ant Breach@antbreach.bsky.social · 2w ago

This would be the most important local finance reform since Elizabeth I. Finally introducing local revenue sources that aren't property taxes will ensure places really benefit from local growth - more jobs and/or higher wages in a place will translate into more investment and services:

Welcome and interesting in so many ways But… www.thetimes.com/article/5f0e...

Andy Burnham will give mayors income tax cash for cities

The PM’s devolution agenda accompanies plans for defence, social care and jobs for the young

thetimes.com

Andy Burnham, 21, writes to The Guardian in defence of Philip Larkin

The new prime minister is about to run out of prison spaces. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. But once again, there are no easy answers and just cancelling early releases is not a solution. The focus must be on public protection - including better protection in the community. 🧵

The government must focus on public protection when it comes to prison releases | Institute for Government

There are no easy answers to meeting the prison capacity challenge.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

LOADS of fascinating and useful content on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk website responding to Andy Burnham’s first week Rebecca conveniently sums it up here for your Friday evening reading pleasure

Rebecca McKee@rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 2w ago

It's been a busy week in government, and at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk We've been keeping up with the key moves and announcements this week, so you don't have to Here's a round up of my top picks of analysis from my excellent colleagues 🧵

It's been a busy week in government, and at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk We've been keeping up with the key moves and announcements this week, so you don't have to Here's a round up of my top picks of analysis from my excellent colleagues 🧵

He wants to be adored – Burnham’s people-pleasing policy debut | Institute for Government

The Manchester Mill's Joshi Herrman joins the podcast team to explore Andy Burnham's first week as prime minister.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

I’ve now made a full-government version of this Of the 92 MPs in Burnham’s government, 11 represent constituencies in Greater Manchester The north west has 16 in total, equalling the number from London and Yorkshire and the Humber

Philip Nye@philipnye.bsky.social · 2w ago

One question that’s come up a couple of times: where do Andy Burnham’s new cabinet represent as MPs? The north west has been the big gainer, with seven cabinet ministers holding seats there – of whom, five are in Greater Manchester

Big news this week - Burnham announced a new Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In line with @instituteforgovernment.org.uk recommendations But as @alexgathomas.bsky.social says this needs to be more than a rebranding exercise if it's going to work - we'll be keeping an eye on developments!

Burnham is right to create an Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Institute for Government

Reforms to No10 and the Cabinet Office must be more than a rebranding exercise.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

🎧NEW: Fascinating insights from @joshih.bsky.social @manchestermill.bsky.social on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast with @akashpaun.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @hannahkeenan.bsky.social exploring Andy Burnham’s first week as prime minister podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

He wants to be adored – Burnham’s people-pleasing policy debut

Podcast Episode · Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · 24 July · 44min

podcasts.apple.com

Come on prime minister - having adopted our recommendations for the centre of government, why not take on board @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social important points about aligning public services…

Stuart Hoddinott@stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · 2w ago

NEW BLOG: organisational boundaries in local govt, the NHS and police do not match up That's a problem for Burnham's devo ambitions He should intervene now to create an aligned system that paves the way for future public services devo More 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...

Burnham is right to create an Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Adopting the IfG’s proposals to redesign the centre of government should enable the new prime minister to drive government more effectively, says @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...

Burnham is right to create an Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Institute for Government

Reforms to No10 and the Cabinet Office must be more than a rebranding exercise.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Keeping ministers in place - having signalled political change at cabinet level - is very sensible Good stuff @andyburnham.bsky.social for following our advice! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...

Burnham’s first reshuffle should resist a sweeping change of junior ministers | Institute for Government

Beyond refreshing his Cabinet, keeping most ministers in their current roles is Burnham’s best chance of getting things done in government.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social · 2w ago

7 Cabinet ministers and over 40 junior ministers continue in prior roles. These include Torsten Bell at HMT, Jake Richards at Justice, and recently appointed Calvin Bailey, Veterans Minister

Some considered thoughts on the new Office of the PM & Cabinet here It’s v good news. But we’re worried the changes don’t yet go far enough. A spectral Cabinet Office will endure, leaving reform as a branding exercise not a new way of governing www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...

Burnham is right to create an Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Institute for Government

Reforms to No10 and the Cabinet Office must be more than a rebranding exercise.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Major machinery of govt changes including - finally! - the creation of an Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Long overdue and excellent news that the Burnham govt has grasped this nettle questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

questions-statements.parliament.uk

Interesting appointments here - Attorney General’s legal chops far more important than those of SofS Justice / Lord Ch. Reeves a lawyer and former Solicitor General - joint ministers - solve a problem in the short term, good luck making it work medium/long term - CST vital for next spending review

Matthew Holehouse@matthewholehouse.bsky.social · 2w ago

Hamish Falconer succeeds NTS as minister for EU negotiations

I was sceptical about DSIT when Sunak created it - seemed destined to be an ephemeral department But I changed my mind and am sorry to see it go. Had established itself as a solid policy dept and was doing some good work. And machinery of govt changes are of course always a nightmare

Rachel Coldicutt@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 2w ago

Well so long DSIT. That is a hell of a swing - might seem like a junior dept of little consequence from within govt, but putting science and innovation in with business is a pretty solid Tory move. One can only hope all the non-innovative tech, that keeps everything ticking over, gets a home too.

We have a new chief whip- Anneliese Midgley. In some ways unsurprising as an appointment- was a key figure in Burnham’s by-election and leadership campaign, and so will be seen by backbenchers as having the PM’s ear, which is important.…

Distinctly ambiguous feelings about prime ministers hugging (No10 is now on BlueSky)

UK Prime Minister Updates@downingstreet.bsky.social · 2w ago

Ed Miliband has been appointed as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

@jillongovt.bsky.social and I had a report ready to go but were pipped to the post by Burnham’s (predictable) decision to bring digital ID to an end. There were too many questions to answer and little that had been decided, making it an easier (and popular) decision than most will be for Burnham!

Jill Rutter@jillongovt.bsky.social · 2w ago

First concrete decision from Burnham govt - binning the digital ID scheme - new comment from @hcdunlop.bsky.social and me @instituteforgovernment.org.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy... Not a surprise and good to move quickly ..but will still need a view on other govt ID work

We have our new PM. Alongside, we’ll get a whole host of new ministers. We’re expecting new leaders in most of the big public service departments: health, justice, local government, home office, & maybe education too. But what will this mean for services and all their ongoing reforms? 🧵

Ahead of a busy week, be sure to follow our expert insight and analysis: For our analysis on what's in store for the new chancellor and the fiscal choices they face follow @tompope.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social & @martha-ford.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...

Andy Burnham needs a new fiscal strategy that deals with the tax lock | Institute for Government

Tough choices on tax and spend await the next prime minister.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk