Daniel Howes
@howesdaniel.bsky.social
Research assistant: civil service and public bodies, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Cymro
Following on from @jackworlidge.bsky.social's analysis, here are a few other interesting things to pull out from this year's civil service stats (1/3)
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 ⬇️
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 ⬇️
Burnham’s cabinet is the first to achieve gender parity. And the Office for Equality and Opportunity will move to the MHCLG with Bridget Phillipson remaining in post as Minister for Women and Equalities. Here’s our IfG breakdown of what yesterday’s announcements mean for women in government … 🧵
DSIT news is somewhat baffling. MoG changes are not to be taken lightly and can often do more harm than good. Expect disruption, a hit to morale and loss of productivity unless Burnham and co can articulate a clear vision for the new mega department www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Creating and dismantling government departments | Institute for Government
The direct costs of creating a new department start at £15 million.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Good thread from @gavinfreeguard.com about the decision to split DSIT. It struggled with its ability to influence (esp. as digital centre of govt) across govt, hiring senior roles, and has just had a reorg with the move of GDS in 2024. But the new depts have big & more varied (& unrelated) briefs
Gavin Freeguard@gavinfreeguard.com · 2w agoIncompatible systems. Different contractual terms. Working out how teams fit together. Turf wars over responsibilities. New arrangements bedding in. Stakeholders (again!) having to rebuild relationships. Etc Etc. Etc. Policy paralysis, delayed delivery, opportunity costs all the way down.
DSIT news is somewhat baffling. MoG changes are not to be taken lightly and can often do more harm than good. Expect disruption, a hit to morale and loss of productivity unless Burnham and co can articulate a clear vision for the new mega department www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Creating and dismantling government departments | Institute for Government
The direct costs of creating a new department start at £15 million.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Looking forward to this cracking lineup. Share with your networks and sign up below In person (apply for an invitation): instituteforgovernment.zohobackstage.eu/Regulationin... Online (open sign-up): www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/regula...
Matthew Gill@drmatthewgill.bsky.social · last mo.1/8 Do join us at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk for our half day conference – “Regulation in a changing world: How to meet the needs of the future?” – on the afternoon of Wednesday 15th July.
A bit of a side note, today of all days, but @instituteforgovernment.org.uk analysis of yesteday's civil service staff numbers showed the civil service is *still* growing. FTE numbers were up almost 2,800 in Q1 2026 compared to Q4 2025. Very much continuing the trend of recent years
Save the date! 15th July: An absolutely chock-a-block half-day conference all about the future of regulation hosted at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Great speakers and timely topics - register to tune in online below. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/regula...
Regulation in a changing world: How to meet the needs of the future? | Institute for Government
A half-day conference bringing together experts from across government, industry and civil society to discuss the future of regulation in the UK.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Cracking panel of IfG experts lined up to discuss the ongoing Westminster drama/farce at tomorrow's webinar. Do sign up and tune in at 10am. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-n...
Chaos returns to Westminster: What next for Keir Starmer and the government? | Institute for Government
An expert IfG webinar on the impact on government of Wes Streeting's resignation and Andy Burnham's Westminster ambitions.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Really exciting news in the King’s Speech - delighted to see the govt adopting our ideas to legislate to strengthen and improve the civil service. Amid the political turbulence this should be a massive moment for government reform
You don't *have* to speak a different UK language to work at IfG, but if you do you *will* get put in front of a camera. Fab work by @howesdaniel.bsky.social and @meganbryer.bsky.social! Any Cornish speakers out there?
Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 3mo agoMewn pythefnos, bydd pobl yng Nghymru yn mynd i bleidleisio yn y saethfed etholiad Seneddol ers sefydlu datganoli yn 1999. Mae @meganbryer.bsky.social a @howesdaniel.bsky.social yn esbonio beth sydd yn y fantol yn yr etholiadau yma www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/se...
Mewn pythefnos, bydd pobl yng Nghymru yn mynd i bleidleisio yn y saethfed etholiad Seneddol ers sefydlu datganoli yn 1999. Mae @meganbryer.bsky.social a @howesdaniel.bsky.social yn esbonio beth sydd yn y fantol yn yr etholiadau yma www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/se...
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
The Mandelson vetting blame-game is causing serious damage to ministerial-civil service relations | Institute for Government
The sacking of Olly Robbins has been badly handled by Keir Starmer.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Three weeks to go until the Senedd Cymru elections What do we want? Welsh language content! When do we want it? Now! Very excited we’re publishing two comment pieces in Welsh about the election in the land of my fathers 🏴 @meganbryer.bsky.social @howesdaniel.bsky.social top translators
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/🧵
a red dragon on a green and white flag
ALT: a red dragon on a green and white flag
media.tenor.com
WEBINAR | A state rewired? Civil service size, shape, and turnover Tuesday 7 April, 12:30– 13:15 Join us for the first in a series of webinars exploring the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026 and the context in which much needed strategic workforce planning should be taking place.
For a more in-depth look at how civil service staff numbers have changed, you can find our updated explainer below: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ci...
Civil service staff numbers | Institute for Government
Who exactly are civil servants and how many are there?
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Daniel Howes@howesdaniel.bsky.social · 5mo agoIt's that time again... ONS Public Sector Employment dropped today, revealing a familiar pattern - the civil service just can't stop growing. An increase of 535 from Q3 2025 to Q4 2025 brings the total to 520,860 (FTE). @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
It's that time again... ONS Public Sector Employment dropped today, revealing a familiar pattern - the civil service just can't stop growing. An increase of 535 from Q3 2025 to Q4 2025 brings the total to 520,860 (FTE). @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
What can the Foreign Office actually do when British nationals are caught up in a crisis overseas? @hcdunlop.bsky.social and @howesdaniel.bsky.social break down the support the UK can - and can’t - provide, and why expectations often exceed reality. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...
How does the Foreign Office help British nationals in a crisis? | Institute for Government
There are several ways the UK government steps in to help British nationals abroad.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
The civil service people survey results are out DHSC has the largest drop in engagement (staff morale) among Whitehall departments, 6ppts from 63% to 57% The dept also had a *13 ppt* drop for its leadership and managing change theme Seems like NHS England abolition is causing serious discontent
New data! Looks like civil servants were about as happy in 2025 as they were in 2024 (which I think is quite impressive given big exit schemes happening) @instituteforgovernment.org.uk will be digging into the new civil service people survey scores to get under the skin of how CS are feeling...
Antonia Romeo, as well as being the first female cabinet secretary, will also be the fourth person to hold the position in the last 8 years. As the chart shows, such short recent tenures are atypical - and not ideal for enabling a permanent, impartial civil service. 1/
Really enjoyed discussing what it's like being an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk researcher at the "Working in the think tank sector" event at @resolutionfoundation.org yesterday. Recording available below, with the "Day in a life" panel starting from 1:43. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2S1...
Working in the think tank sector: Webinar for those interested in working in the sector
YouTube video by Resolution Foundation
youtube.com
Our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conclusion on Chris Wormald’s time as cabinet secretary - and what needs to come next By me and @hannahkeenan.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/next...
Keir Starmer’s next cabinet secretary must learn the lessons from Chris Wormald’s mistakes | Institute for Government
The next cabinet secretary needs to be a far more visible civil service leader.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
I'll be speaking on a panel at this event hosted by @resolutionfoundation.org in a couple of weeks, talking about what the day-to-day of a researcher at a think tank is like. Improving representation personally important to me so please do share! Sign up: www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/worki...
1/8 It's good to see the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) receiving the attention it deserves. This explainer from @howesdaniel.bsky.social @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explains its role ⬇️. But John Fingleton's recent review of ONR raised regulatory issues that go beyond the sector. A thread...
Daniel Howes@howesdaniel.bsky.social · 6mo agoEver wondered who's keeping our nuclear power stations from melting down/blowing up? Or who decides where new reactors can and can't go? Or who stops nuclear material getting into the wrong hands? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/of...
Ever wondered who's keeping our nuclear power stations from melting down/blowing up? Or who decides where new reactors can and can't go? Or who stops nuclear material getting into the wrong hands? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/of...
Office for Nuclear Regulation | Institute for Government
The Office for Nuclear Regulation's mission is to protect society by ensuring the safety of all nuclear operations. But how does it regulate?
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
1/ Today, we publish Whitehall Monitor 2026, the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's annual data-driven assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service. Key headlines about perm secs, size of CS and ALBs below 👇🧵 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Whitehall Monitor 2026 | Institute for Government
Labour’s efforts to ‘rewire the state’ aren’t addressing longstanding workforce problems.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
