Cath Haddon@cathhaddon.bsky.social · last mo.

Back in 2012 James Purnell wrote a paper for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on how incoming ministers could have a successful transition in their first hundred days. No doubt his thinking has evolved, but it's interesting in the context of how Burnham is approaching the PM transition. 🧵

What did we learn from @andyburnham.bsky.social 's big devolution speech in Manchester today? See my insta-take on BBC News below (with apologies for the messy domestic backdrop!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GV5...

Andy Burnham speech - Akash Paun, BBC News

YouTube video by Institute for Government

youtube.com

Within a few weeks we'll have our next prime minister - don't know if you've heard, but he's been mayor of Manchester for the last few years. @tompope.bsky.social, @akashpaun.bsky.social and I have had a look for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at the differences between the two roles:

From mayor to prime minister | Institute for Government

Does Andy Burnham’s experience as a regional mayor prepare him for No.10?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

WEBINAR | Andy Burnham: What to expect from the next PM? 📅 Tuesday 30 June, 13:15–14:00 Join us to hear @samfr.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social explore Andy Burnham’s preparations for No.10 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/andy-b...

Just how useful is having been a mayor for taking on the role of PM? Great new paper from @timdurrant.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

From mayor to prime minister | Institute for Government

Does Andy Burnham’s experience as a regional mayor prepare him for No.10?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

With vote counting still underway, join us live at 16:00 as we explore the implications of the results, who won, who lost and what next. With @matthewfright.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/local-...

The cancellation then reinstatement of this year’s local elections in 30 council areas highlights that ministers have too much power over local democracy. This should change, argue @akashpaun.bsky.social and @matthewfright.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mini...

Ministers should lose their sweeping powers to delay local elections | Institute for Government

The back-and-forth over election timings has been bad for central and local government alike.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

NHS leaders and Wes Streeting should be alarmed by this. These figures point to a genuine collapse in NHS staff morale pretty much across the country - though with interesting variation too. E.g. what explains the v different figures in Norfolk and Suffolk?

Stuart Hoddinott@stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · 5mo ago

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...

As part of our series with devolved party leaders, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is pleased to be hosting Reform UK leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, for an online-only conversation on Monday 16/3. Sign up: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/lord-m... And let me know what I should ask him!

I really enjoyed chairing this afternoon's event, with Plaid Cymru leader @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social, on his plans for government Do watch back at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXM-...

In conversation with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru

YouTube video by Institute for Government

youtube.com

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 5mo ago

Watch live as @akashpaun.bsky.social chats to @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social about the 2026 Senedd election, his plans for government and Plaid Cymru's vision for Wales 📺 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...

How can mayors use investment powers to boost regional economies? Our DevoLab#2 report, by @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social and @akashpaun.bsky.social explores the tools available, what’s working, and what needs to change: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Learning from the DevoLab #2: How mayors can secure investment into regional economies | Institute for Government

Three case studies of how devolved powers and mayoral influence have been used to secure investment into regional economies.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

At @instituteforgovernment.org.uk we're very excited to be working with @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social on a new event series on local government reorganisation. The first, on 26/2, asks how ministers should decide on the shape and size of new unitary authorities. Sign up to join in person or online 👇

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 6mo ago

EVENT | How should ministers decide the size and shape of new unitary authorities? 📅 Thursday 26 February, 12:30–13:30 Join us for the first event in our 'Making a Success of Local Government Reorganisation' series www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/minist...

Tim Allan only joined No10 in September last year as part of the most recent (very turbulent) 'reset'...

Adam Payne@adampayne26.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Tim Allan quits as 10 Downing Street director of communications after around five months in the job “I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success," he says in a short statement

What tools do metro mayors have to drive regeneration, and how do mayoral development corporations fit in? Our explainer sets out what MDCs are, the powers they hold, and where they’re being used. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ma...

Mayoral development corporations | Institute for Government

What are mayoral development corporations and which mayors are using them?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

EVENT | Ahead of the seventh election to Senedd Cymru, join us on Monday 2 March for an in conversation with @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social. The Leader of Plaid Cymru will discuss his plan for government and Plaid Cymru’s vision for the future of Wales www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...

The next set of mayoral elections will be more like a lottery as voters will have to guess who will make it into the Top Two and who they want/want to stop to be mayor. Lets have proper preferential voting now.

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 6mo ago

Labour should introduce the alternative vote system for mayoral elections Multi-party politics makes the AV the best choice, say @akashpaun.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...

This is a well worth a read, though with respect to @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social, yes 30 January is far too late! (Maybe you meant Chinese New Year?)

Stuart Hoddinott@stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Happy new year (is it too late to say that?) from the Week in Public Services team! This week: the government’s addiction to pilots; the failure of ed tech; and Reform UK’s row about pensions medium.com/week-in-publ...

Very exciting to see the latest publication in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk #DevoLab series - spotlighting how devolution is enabling improvements in transport connectivity in Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region & West Yorkshire. Many thanks to our partners Arup for their support. 🧵👇

Megan Isaac@meganisaac.bsky.social · 6mo ago

NEW RESEARCH📢 Excited to share the third report in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk DevoLab series exploring how devolution can improve transport connectivity. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Lord Wallace. Jim was a lovely man who welcomed me to his home in Orkney, and with whom I drank too much whisky several times, while putting the world to rights. Jim's wise reflections on being a minister: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-re...

Lord Wallace | Institute for Government

Lord Wallace reflects on his experience in the UK coalition government and how it compared to his time in the Scottish government.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

NEW | How devolution can improve transport connectivity Our latest DevoLab briefing sets out three case studies showing how mayoral strategic authorities are ideally placed to help tackle England’s transport challenges www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Learning from the DevoLab #3: How devolution can improve transport connectivity | Institute for Government

Three case studies of how devolved powers and mayoral influence have been used to improve transport connectivity.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

7/ For more analysis of the upcoming local, Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections, see our new elections hub: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/local-devolved-elections-2026 And follow our devolution team: @akashpaun.bsky.social @matthewfright.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social

Local and devolved elections 2026 | Institute for Government

On Thursday 7 May, voters across Scotland, Wales and England head to the polls in a major set of local and devolved elections.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics? The afternoon will crack on with a preview of the issues at stake in the hugely significant elections taking place across the UK in May 2026 @luketryl.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social

For those following the development of English mayoral #devolution, this is an interesting read from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s Mr Devolution @akashpaun.bsky.social on the recently announced postponement of mayoral elections in priority areas & the case for limiting any such delay to 2027

Mayoral elections in priority areas should be held in May 2027 at the very latest | Institute for Government

The government has not made a convincing case for postponement.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

The decision to delay mayoral elections reflects poorly on the government, and is a disappointing step back in a policy area in which they had previously been making real progress. More from @akashpaun.bsky.social, @matthewfright.bsky.social, @meganisaac.bsky.social and me, below 👇

Rebecca McKee@rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 8mo ago

The government's decision to delay the 2026 mayoral elections in DPP areas is truly baffling and v disappointing Excellent analysis in this from @matthewfright.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

Report | Learning from the DevoLab #1: How devolution can address health inequalities This policy briefing presents three short case studies of how devolved powers have been used to address health inequalities. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Learning from the DevoLab #1: How devolution can address health inequalities | Institute for Government

Three case studies of how devolved powers have been used to address health inequalities.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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...

Mayoral elections in priority areas should be held in May 2027 at the very latest | Institute for Government

The government has not made a convincing case for postponement.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

On Monday I was honoured to host the launch of the @londonassembly.bsky.social new report on devolution, Trusting London to Deliver. A valuable discussion about how we strengthen our city and ensure Londoners’ voices are heard. @bassammahfouz.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social

At #Lab25? Our programme director @akashpaun.bsky.social is chatting with Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council @lpoolcityregion.bsky.social, about devolution and economic growth. 🗓 Join us in Meeting Room 11A in the ACC.

Our event at Reform U.K. starting with @akashpaun.bsky.social talking about the “messy” system of local government currently in the U.K. 14 mayors covering about 50% of U.K. the two or three tiers of loval govt made more confusing by other functions that don’t match to political boundaries.

This is the first time I can remember that the tone of my quote has matched my beaming/smug photo