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...

There's been an interesting debate about whether mayors could (and should) be able to provide rebates with assigned revenue. This from @jacktshaw.bsky.social is the best summary I've seen of the current legal position jackshaw.substack.com/p/can-and-sh... Some thoughts on the merits 🧵1/12

Can — and should — mayors be allowed to offer tax rebates?

debates over tax rebates are fiscal policy, but also the political differences that greater devolution will create — and what they mean for the relationship between Whitehall and strategic authorities

jackshaw.substack.com

Andy Burnham’s devolution announcement is a strong start on his priority agenda Changes on tax, new powers and institutions show Burnham means business, says @tompope.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy...

Andy Burnham’s devolution announcement is a strong start on his priority agenda | Institute for Government

Changes on tax, new powers and institutions show Burnham means business.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

And here is my piece for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk elaborating a bit on these initial reflections www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy...

Andy Burnham’s devolution announcement is a strong start on his priority agenda | Institute for Government

Changes on tax, new powers and institutions show Burnham means business.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Thomas Pope@tompope.bsky.social · 5d ago

Some thoughts on the government's devo announcement today: Overall, this is a great start on the govt's flagship agenda 1/

Really great it looks like government is going further on devolving employment support. It's a big opportunity to join-up services, tailor support locally, improve engagement and innovate. Flexible funding will be key to this (and should help areas streamline the current patchwork of programmes)

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

Details on some of the first services they intend to devolve power for, including employment support. A big win for @drbenpaxton.bsky.social and @martha-ford.bsky.social who recommended exactly that in their recent paper on the topic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

A great overview of the Burnham government's plans to rewire the state.

Thomas Pope@tompope.bsky.social · 5d ago

Some thoughts on the government's devo announcement today: Overall, this is a great start on the govt's flagship agenda 1/

More @instituteforgovernment.org.uk initial reactions to the rewiring the state cabinet statement. TLDR - the scale of ambition is bold so a lot to unpack 🧵

This is a genuinely exciting announcement about Burnham's intention for public service reform There are some potentially massive changes to the way that services are funded and operate A few things that jumped out at me 👇 www.gov.uk/government/p...

Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement (HTML)

gov.uk

If you think this one looks complex... the reality is now even more complex than that...

Duncan Weldon@duncanweldon.bsky.social · 6d ago

Once again find myself thinking about this IfG map.

A big devolution day with press reports suggesting fiscal devolution, greater powers and a new 'local first' principle trailed in the papers. But for Andy Burnham to truly spread 'good growth in every postcode' requires a complete English devolution map 🧵

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

Andy Burnham is setting out his approach to social care Our performance tracker from 2025 shows the damaging geographical and demographic ‘care gap’ in England. To take action government needs to understand how and where this care gap is forming www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

As the new government continues to make big announcements daily, we @instituteforgovernment.org.uk will be taking stock on Thursday lunchtime in a webinar. Do join! You can sign up at the link below

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.

As Burnham enters No10, with a new minister for intergovernmental relations attending cabinet, @akashpaun.bsky.social & @matthewfright.bsky.social offer some advice to the government on how to improve relations with Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The Burnham government needs a new strategy for the Union | Institute for Government

To deliver growth in every postcode, Burnham must build a genuine partnership with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

With everyone looking for clues for how the new PM may govern and what further devolution may look like, the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk DevoLab series features 18 case studies of how devolved powers and funding have been used across six policy areas, in 10 mayoral regions.

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

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 … 🧵

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

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

In his resignation speech, outgoing MHCLG secretary of state Steve Reed quoted remarks made by Andy Burnham at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk conference 2026

Keir Starmer ducked the scale of the government’s fiscal challenges on entering office. Andy Burnham now has the opportunity to avoid making the same mistake, say @tompope.bsky.social, @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social and @drbenpaxton.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

The two ministers who have resigned today were both direct ministerial appointments (appointed to the Lords by Starmer to serve in government) As PM Starmer appointed ten of these - you can read more about these posts and how they're appointed in our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer

Direct ministerial appointments to the House of Lords | Institute for Government

If the prime minister wants to appoint a minister who is not a sitting MP or serving peer, they must ennoble them.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Hetan Shah@hetanshah.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is a real shame - Patrick Vallance has been a really excellent and committed Science Minister who knew the territory and took a strategic view. Big shoes to fill

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? 🧵

Good news, and... One of the big positives in the Starmer govt’s approach was its move beyond a narrow focus on rough sleeping. Burnham should make sure this pledge sits within a broader prevention strategy - not simply drive more spending on poor-value temporary accommodation to meet the target

James Ball@jamesrball.com · 2w ago

Ending rough sleeping is a nice pledge to hear – but worth noting it's *much* easier to achieve than ending homelessness. We pretty much managed it during Covid, but things got worse again rapidly. www.bigissue.com/news/housing...

Local government reorganisation decisions are due today, shaping the future of local government in many areas. For those thinking about what comes next, the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk making a success of LGR series, delivered in partnership with @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social, is a great resource.

Keir Starmer has started his final week as PM. So what have been the big moments of his premiership, and what can his successor learn from the last two years? We @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have been having a look back... www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

With mayoral devolution set to take centre stage in Government thinking, join this fantastic @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event tomorrow evening to learn how mayors are using their powers and influence to support a just climate transition. Signup details below.

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 4w ago

EVENT | IfG DevoLab #6: How can mayors support a just climate transition? 📅Tuesday 14 July 2026, 17:30-19:00 Join us at the Institute for Government to explore how mayors and local leaders can use devolved powers to support a just climate transition.

On byelections, writs, and timetables. 1. For a by-election to be held, a writ (a document calling for an election to take place in a particular constituency) needs to be sent to the constituency returning officer who will oversee the election.

if you have worked in or with government, this is a fantastic opportunity - you will enjoy it so much. Take it - you won't regret it. Am almost tempted to apply............

Hannah White@drhannahwhite.bsky.social · 4w ago

We are hiring! Brilliant senior job running our new UK Government team… …looking for someone creative and strategic with experience of government who would seize this fantastic opportunity to make government work well for the people of the UK! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

we know that the (99.9% certain) next PM is up for devo.. but what will that mean for #netzero -- can mayors deliver the energy transition. Join us @instituteforgovernment.org.uk next week to find out what they have been doing/ what more they could do. Sign up below (and please RT)

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 4w ago

EVENT | IfG DevoLab #6: How can mayors support a just climate transition? 📅Tuesday 14 July 2026, 17:30-19:00 Join us at the Institute for Government to explore how mayors and local leaders can use devolved powers to support a just climate transition.