NEW: Burnham made a strong case for adult social care reform at conference, but pushed the National Care Service into next parliament I argue he should get on with it, use his majority and 2024 mandate and establish the NCS in this parliament 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

Andy Burnham should establish the National Care Service this parliament | Institute for Government

There is no reason to delay plans for potentially three years.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

In conversation with Alex Burghart MP, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party 📆Monday 5 October, 13:10–13:50 Heading to Birmingham for the Conservative Party Conference? Join us to hear the party's Deputy Leader chat to @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-co...

NEW:"There is no reason for delay. Burnham has a huge majority & a mandate to establish the National Care Service from the 2024 manifesto" @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on why Burnham should accelerate care reforms www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...

Andy Burnham should establish the National Care Service this parliament | Institute for Government

There is no reason to delay plans for potentially three years.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Instant & expert Burnham speech reaction on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast with @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @claire-ainsley.bsky.social & @sophiestowers.bsky.social What is Burnham up to & what does it mean for government? podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Burnham goes big: What difference does it make?

Podcast Episode · Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · 30 September · 36min

podcasts.apple.com

"Political leaders can inspire moments of hope, but a truer mark of political leadership is the skill to build a consensus for lasting change" Must-read from @drhannahwhite.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at Labour conference www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/labo...

Labour Conference 2026: Will Andy Burnham pass his first test of leadership? | Institute for Government

The IfG has identified five key areas where the prime minister can use conference to prove he is serious about delivering change.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Excellent @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast! @gilesyb.bsky.social @timleunig.bsky.social @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social talk crypto donations and preview Lib Dem conf Plus: just how uncertain is everything right now? www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

The 72 million pound questions | Institute for Government

Lib Dem peer Tim Leunig joins the podcast team to assess what comes next for party political donations.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

🚨NEW REPORT from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on government and academia How has the relationship changed? What does government still need to do to make the best of the UK’s leading research ecosystem? Thoughtful thoughts (and a link) from @teodorgrama.bsky.social below 👇👇

Teodor Grama@teodorgrama.bsky.social · 3mo ago

For those who want a break from Burnham news… NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report out today by @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social, Saudamini Sigdel and I on how govt can better engage with researchers & bring their evidence, insights and expertise into policy making.

In April @instituteforgovernment.org.uk argued that the (then) PM should introduce a Brown-style National Economic Council to coordinate the govt response to the Middle East War www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Managing the economic consequences of the Iran war | Institute for Government

How should the government respond to the crisis in the Middle East?

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

So Burnham is pausing planned early releases from prisons. Not much of a surprise, but he should be hesitant to junk these plans entirely — the last government didn’t want to do this either! There are no easy answers on prison capacity www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...

Burnham pauses plan to release some prisoners early from September - live updates

Under the scheme - designed to ease overcrowding - thousands of prisoners in England and Wales could have been freed after serving a third of their sentence, rather than half.

bbc.co.uk

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...

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

Essential lowdown of a busy week at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk and so much great new content from the brilliant team here 👇

Rebecca McKee@rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 3mo 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 🧵

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 · 3mo 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

🎧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

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’s devolution agenda can lay strong foundations for public service reform | Institute for Government

The new PM needs to align the boundaries of services in local areas.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

NEW: As Andy Burnham meets the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, this new short @instituteforgovernment.org.uk paper by top colleagues @akashpaun.bsky.social & @matthewfright.bsky.social sets out how the new PM needs to shape his Union strategy 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

Partnered with the brilliant @rebeccamckee.bsky.social to look at Andy Burnham's stated approach to working with his backbenchers. While it's encouraging that the new PM is thinking seriously about this relationship, he could go further to truly embed different ways of working

Fixing relations with MPs will require more than warm words from Andy Burnham | Institute for Government

Andy Burnham should be prepared to redistribute power in Parliament.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Insightful and informed new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment by @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and @aliceolilly.bsky.social on Burnham’s promise to change how whips whip and to engage more with his backbench MPs 👇

Rebecca McKee@rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 3mo ago

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment from me and @aliceolilly.bsky.social Burnham is right to identify parliament as a source of useful scrutiny rather than a problem to be managed, but fixing relations with MPs will require more than warm words and should be backed by bigger changes.

This is a VERY useful database 👇

Philip Nye@philipnye.bsky.social · 3mo ago

As cabinet appointments start to come in, a reminder that we (@instituteforgovernment.org.uk) hold a database of all ministerial appointments back to 1979 It's easy to look up all the previous holders of a post, all the roles someone has had etc: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-da...

At 4pm we're still waiting for news of who exactly will be in Burnham's government (we know some who won't) While we wait, here's an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast episode from last year lifting the lid on what it's like behind the scenes during a reshuffle

The reshuffle revelations | Institute for Government

Special guests Cleo Watson and Helen MacNamara join us for this special Inside Briefing to reveal the inside story of government reshuffles.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Its a sad ending for Britain's first woman Chancellor (as Theresa May once said - hopefully not the last) as Rachel Reeves returns to the backbenches. But she bears a lot of the responsibility for the failures of the Starmer government. The biggest mistakes were before the 2024 election

Does Andy Burnham have a mandate? Here's the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk verdict from @cathhaddon.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/does...

Does Andy Burnham have a mandate? | Institute for Government

Labour’s opponents are demanding that the next prime minister call an early general election.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Moving part of No.10 to Manchester could give the beleaguered operation the space it needs to deliver on Burnham’s priorities, but only if the next prime minister is clear what No.10 North is for, says @hannahkeenan.bsky.social Read our comment: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/no10...

No.10 North: Burnham needs to be clear-eyed about the purpose of his Manchester office | Institute for Government

An overwhelmed 10 Downing Street could be improved by creating No.10 North.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

PODCAST 🎙️ Brexit at 10: A decade of drama, deals and disruption @adamfleming.bsky.social joins @jillongovt.bsky.social @anandmenon.bsky.social to look back on 10 years of key Brexit moments and explore what they told us about Britain and the world www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/brex...

Tune in now!

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

Starting in 45 minutes - tune in live at 13:15 to hear our experts discuss Andy Burnham's preparations for No.10. Submit your questions to our panel via Slido www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/andy-b...

What can we expect from (likely) PM Andy Burnham? Expert answers in tomorrow’s @instituteforgovernment.org.uk webinar @samfr.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/andy-burnham-what-expect-next-prime-minister

Andy Burnham: What to expect from the next prime minister? | Institute for Government

An IfG expert webinar explores Andy Burnham’s preparations for No.10.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Will Andy Burnham’s plan for No.10 North really work? This new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment by @hannahkeenan.bsky.social sets out a very good argument for why it could (and how it might not)

Hannah Keenan@hannahkeenan.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Quite here for No.10 North (if that's what we're calling it). Loads of pitfalls, and I think you do need to keep quite a lot of centre of gov in your capital city, but there is a v good version of this which moves out Burnham priorities. Have written down some ideas on how to make it work 👇

Bookmark this! We're publishing 10 thought-provoking Brexit anniversary comment pieces for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk featuring: @gilesyb.bsky.social @claire-ainsley.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social @davidlidington.bsky.social Henry Hill & more

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

A decade ago, on 23 June 2016, the UK voted to terminate nearly half a century of EU membership. To mark the 10th anniversary of the referendum, we will be publishing a series of comment pieces to reflect on what Brexit has meant for UK government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

NEW: How Keir Starmer can put country before party as his exit looms @drhannahwhite.bsky.social and @alexgathomas.bsky.social call on the PM to seize the initiative and take ownership of the timetable for a transition of power www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/keir...

How Keir Starmer can put country before party as his exit looms | Institute for Government

A well-prepared transition of prime ministers would be in the interests of the country.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast! (with a fine @nndroid.bsky.social title) @luketryl.bsky.social joins us from Makerfield - with a week until the by-election - to discuss what it could mean for Andy Burnham, Keir Starmer & the government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

The way you Makerfield | Institute for Government

More in Common's Luke Tryl joins the podcast from Makerfield to discuss how this peculiar by-election is shaping how voters are thinking.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Follow Megan for all the latest updates to our excellent ministerial charts (and then read @drbenpaxton.bsky.social's blog from earlier this week on the government's unconvincing efforts to find money to pay to pay for defence) www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/slic...

Salami-slicing capital budgets for defence is bad fiscal policy making | Institute for Government

Raiding capital budgets in this way to pay for greater defence capability is the wrong approach.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Megan Bryer@meganbryer.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Defence secretary John Healey has just resigned over the govt's Defence Investment Plan, writing that it "falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time". We're getting our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk resignation chart fired back up..