Now underway. If you can't join us, look out for a recording on our website soon. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-li...

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d ago

Today we're at the Lib Dem conference for an introduction conversation with Daisy Cooper @libdemdaisy.bsky.social The Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems will be chatting to @gilesyb.bsky.social Join us at The Grand in Brighton at 12:25

Oi Canada! Cosying up to the EU and pushing UK to the back of the line? my new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog on the Carney-VDL love-in in Strasbourg www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/carn...

Carney, Canada and the EU: Will the UK’s Brexit hopes fade further from view? | Institute for Government

Fresh EU thinking on Canada may not give the UK more post-Brexit options.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Starting soon...

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

TODAY | Andy Burnham: How can the PM meet the government’s biggest challenges? Join us at 9am as Steph Driver, @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social, Neal Lawson @compassoffice.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social assess Burnham’s first decisions as PM www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/andy-b...

Heading to the Lib Dem Party Conference this week? Join us in Brighton for an in conversation with Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats @libdemdaisy.bsky.social. 📆 Sunday 20 September, 12:25–13:15 With @gilesyb.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-li...

Really helpful piece by @sirjjkc.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the tricky question of how and when retrospective legislation is appropriate and what it it might mean for the legislation currently in Lords on political donations. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/retr...

Legislating for the past: What is retrospective legislation and when is it ok? | Institute for Government

What is meant by “retrospective” legislation, and can it ever be acceptable?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

instituteforgov.substack.com/p/have-thing... I have published my first ever Substack for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk . People love to say "things have never been so volatile".... What do they mean, and are they right?

Have things ‘never been more uncertain’?

Giles Wilkes takes time out of his own Substack to talk uncertainty for The Write-Round.

instituteforgov.substack.com

EVENT | Does the UK do enough to guard against corruption in public life? Thursday 17 Sept, 17:30 With political donations in the news, join us to hear an expert panel discuss what reforms may be needed to strengthen transparency and accountability www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/does-u...

The Thirlwall inquiry reported today, just over 3 years since the inquiry was announced by Steve Barclay, then Health Secretary into events at the Countess of Chester Hospital There are now 22 public inquiries ongoing across the UK - what are they, how long do they take and what do they cost?

Public inquiries | Institute for Government

There are 22 ongoing or announced inquiries. But what exactly is a public inquiry?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

New from me on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk substack "the write-round" Why can't MPs call each other liars? Part of a new series of 'why parliament is weird' a collection of gripes, oddities and head scratchers...would love to hear your takes on the weirdest things in parliament!

Why parliament is weird (no.1): Why can't MPs call each other liars?

MPs can be quite rude to each other in the House. So why can’t they call each other liars?

instituteforgov.substack.com

EVENT | What Happened to Liberal Democracy? Join us for an in conversation with Nobel Prize winner in economics, Daron Acemoglu and @drhannahwhite.bsky.social. Register now to attend in person or online on Tuesday 15 September 📺📅 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/what-h...

How can the PM make his devolution agenda succeed? 📺🎧 Watch or listen as @lukeraikes.bsky.social @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social discuss Andy Burnham's plans to lead the “biggest rebalancing of power” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/andy-b...

If government decisions on LGR lacked a strong enough justification, then it is right that Angela Rayner should ensure there is a robust process in place that is compliant with the law. But ministers must now rebuild trust in the process www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/loca...

Local government reorganisation credibility is on the line | Institute for Government

Local authorities need a clear delivery timetable following the LGR process review.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

The assisted dying bill has been voted down by MPs at 2nd reading today. There are strong views on many sides but it also raises questions of whether PMBs are the right way to legislate on complex, ethical issues. We discussed this earlier this year www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/assist...

Are private members' bills a good way for MPs to decide on difficult policy issues? | Institute for Government

An expert panel drew on lessons from the recent assisted dying bill and other PMBs to consider how backbench MPs should approach complex issues.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Join us on Monday, when we'll get into the basis of the recent LGR announcements, how government can rebuild trust with local govt and what should happen next. Thanks to @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social, as our LGR series continues. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/our-work/top...

Local government reorganisation | Institute for Government

Explore our work on how local areas and central government can best approach local government reorganisation.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2w ago

EVENT | Angela Rayner has put plans to restructure local government on hold. So what went wrong and what happens next? We'll now discuss on Monday 14 September, 12:30, with Amanda Askham @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social, @matthewfright.bsky.social, Heather Jameson from The MJ and @akashpaun.bsky.social

New gov legal guidance is good /maybe it's not the blob?? It's v easy to say 'the civil service is risk-averse' and blame the institution for slowing everything down. Civil service is risk-averse in places, but it's not because civil servants inherently don't want to get stuff done...

Heading to the Lib Dem Party Conference? Join us in Brighton for an in conversation with Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats @libdemdaisy.bsky.social. 📆 Sunday 20 September, 12:25–13:15 With @gilesyb.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-li...

Must-read for @louisehaighmp.bsky.social by the excellent @hannahkeenan.bsky.social - Don't just call it a taskforce and parachute new people into centre duplicating others - Do have a small agile core - Do keep asking if the taskforce is working www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/task...

A collaborative taskforce can help a government deliver its priorities | Institute for Government

Andy Burnham and Lousie Haigh have an uphill battle to overcome taskforce scepticism.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

TODAY | How can government help deliver a globally competitive AI infrastructure for the UK? Join us live at 12:30 to hear our expert panel explore how ministers and civil servants can deliver the government’s AI infrastructure goals www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

The IfG was invited on a tour of the Palace of Westminster to learn more about the proposed multi-billion pound renovation programme. Our latest post from The Write-Round, the IfG’s new Substack, shares what we learned instituteforgov.substack.com/p/going-unde...

Going underground

The IfG was invited on a tour of the Palace of Westminster to learn more about the proposed multi-billion pound renovation programme. What did we learn?

instituteforgov.substack.com

Perhaps you are wondering what to make of Chancellor John Healey's speech this morning? Well, wonder no more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/john... Tl;DR - there was no need for a brand new theory, and we are getting a small taste of what delivering on it means, compared to Starmer.

John Healey’s speech: continuity is no crime | Institute for Government

The summer’s Reeves to Healey switch was more continuity than change.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

TODAY | Andy Burnham, Manchester and No.10 North: How can the PM make his devolution agenda succeed? Tune in live at 12:30 as our expert panel assess Andy Burnham’s plans to lead the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/andy-b...

NEW | UK budget 2026: How John Healey should approach tax in his first budget The autumn budget is the first big test for the Burnham government. Read @tompope.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social's latest analysis www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

How John Healey should approach tax in his first budget | Institute for Government

The 2026 UK budget is fast approaching.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

📣 Arts & humanities researchers: applications are open for the AHRC Engaging with Government Course 2027. Learn how policymaking works, engage effectively with government, and boost your policy impact. Apply by 29 Oct 2026. 🔗 www.ukri.org/events/engag...

Engaging with government course 2027

This course will:

ukri.org

We are excited to announce that our new Substack, The Write-Round, is now live! This will be a space for IfG staff to share their thoughts, observations and takes on everything UK government – so check it out, and subscribe for updates at: instituteforgov.substack.com

The Write-Round | Substack

A Substack from the Institute for Government. Click to read The Write-Round, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

instituteforgov.substack.com

Yesterday Burnham made his first commons appearance as PM. Much of it echoed familiar themes, but there was one point I thought worth digging into: his commitment to extending devo and the role local MP's could play in making it happen. 🧵

Tackling the UK's high NEET rate requires concerted action from across government. But crucially this should centre on a local, joined-up response - not an inflexible national system imposed on areas. As @martha-ford.bsky.social and I wrote in May www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/alan...

Alan Milburn’s NEET diagnosis must lead to local level solutions | Institute for Government

Local leaders are best placed to support a “lost generation” of young people not in education, employment or training.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Something I'm pondering as I'm developing project proposals for @sotf.org.uk is: What resources are there on designing good research projects - research design, interview approaches, comms and influencing, etc? What do you use? What would you recommend? Especially for think tank research?

EVENT | Does the UK do enough to guard against corruption in public life? 📅 Thursday 17 Sept, 17:30 Join us to hear @csc-barrington.bsky.social, John Penrose, @rebeccamckee.bsky.social explore the scale and nature of corruption risks in the UK www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/does-u...

Finally, a while ago I started to develop an idea for a book. (Yes, it's a non-fiction history book about Parliament, how did you guess) I *really* care about this idea and now feels like the time to turn it into reality. So do feel free to get in touch if you happen to work in publishing…!