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Institute for Government

Institute for Government

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Discussions from Institute for Government

Politics

Government must improve fraud prevention before the next crisis

Government must improve fraud prevention before the next crisis jack.sanders Thu, 16/07/2026 - 14:17 Module five of the Covid inquiry shows the need for better procurement and use of data. 4 Comment Ben Paxton Institute for Government Yes The new prime minister would do well to ensure that lessons are learnt so that the government is better prepared for future crises when these, inevitably, come about. Public finances Procurement Public services Ministers Public spending Complex policy proble...

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Economy

Andy Burnham needs a new fiscal strategy that deals with the tax lock

Andy Burnham needs a new fiscal strategy that deals with the tax lock will.driscoll Fri, 17/07/2026 - 11:43 Tough choices on tax and spend await the next prime minister. 6 Comment Ben Paxton Stuart Hoddinott Thomas Pope Institute for Government Yes Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves boxed themselves in by ruling out raising the three main taxes in 2024. Public finances Tax Economy Public spending Regional economic growth Labour Starmer government HM Treasury No Andy Burnham will become prime mini...

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Politics

Full time for Starmer: can Burnham find a way to win?

Full time for Starmer: can Burnham find a way to win? sam.macrory Fri, 17/07/2026 - 12:12 Podcast Institute for Government Ministers Government reshuffle Leadership election Education and skills Health Labour Prime minister Starmer government Burnham government Keir Starmer has bowed out of his final PMQs. Andy Burnham is about to become Britain's next prime minister. But after two turbulent years in Downing Street, what went wrong for Starmer? Can Burnham avoid the same mistakes? And will a ...

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Geopolitics

Burnham will need to work hard to avoid his time being consumed by foreign affairs

Burnham will need to work hard to avoid his time being consumed by foreign affairs jack.sanders Thu, 16/07/2026 - 15:02 The next prime minister should consider appointing a big hitter foreign secretary 5 Comment Jill Rutter Institute for Government Yes The new PM has an opportunity to ensure he does not carry the weight of the world on his shoulders in the same way as Keir Starmer – and his diary – often appeared. International relations Ministers Foreign affairs Labour Prime minister Foreign...

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Politics

Making press releases more political won’t improve how government communicates

Making press releases more political won’t improve how government communicates sam.macrory Thu, 16/07/2026 - 16:50 A better approach to policy making is the best way to strengthen government communications. 4 Comment Jill Rutter Institute for Government Yes Keir Starmer's first press conference as prime minister. Civil service Government communications Labour Permanent secretary Starmer government No In a new guest paper for the Institute for Government, Steph Driver, Keir Starmer’s former No...

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Politics

Government communications as a guardian of public trust

Government communications as a guardian of public trust melissa.ittoo Fri, 17/07/2026 - 13:37 18 Insight paper Institute for Government Yes Civil service Government communications Starmer government Number 10 No Stephe Driver Steph Driver, former No.10 director of communications, explores how the media ecosystem has evolved, and how government can tackle low public trust. Foreword by the Institute for Government Five years ago the Institute commissioned a guest paper by Lee Cain to reflect on...

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Politics

Andy Burnham can make his immediate mark on ethics in public life

Andy Burnham can make his immediate mark on ethics in public life jack.sanders Wed, 15/07/2026 - 08:57 The Ethics and Integrity Commission has provided Andy Burnham with a shopping list of options for improving integrity in public life. 4 Comment Tim Durrant Institute for Government Yes The warning to Burnham is clear: act firmly, and act fast. Ministers Ethical standards Public sector Labour Burnham government No Keir Starmer famously promised a “government of service”, but within weeks of t...

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Geopolitics

Andy Burnham needs to fix a weakened Foreign Office

Andy Burnham needs to fix a weakened Foreign Office jack.sanders Mon, 13/07/2026 - 14:34 A Foreign Office in turmoil cannot deliver the prime minister’s foreign policy priorities. 5 Comment Hannah Keenan Institute for Government Yes As well as a clearer view on what the Foreign Office is doing, the department needs to think far more innovatively about how it is working. Civil service Foreign affairs Civil servants Civil service reform Labour Foreign secretary Foreign, Commonwealth and Develop...

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Politics

Burnham’s first reshuffle should resist a sweeping change of junior ministers

Burnham’s first reshuffle should resist a sweeping change of junior ministers jack.sanders Mon, 13/07/2026 - 14:49 Beyond refreshing his Cabinet, keeping most ministers in their current roles is Burnham’s best chance of getting things done in government. 3 Comment Tim Durrant Institute for Government Yes At this stage of the parliament, if the prime minister is not clear why he is reshuffling a minister then he would be wiser to leave them to get on with the job. Ministers Government reshuffl...

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Politics

Burnham, Binface and Starmer's final flight

Burnham, Binface and Starmer's final flight melissa.ittoo Fri, 10/07/2026 - 12:21 The IfG's experts are in the studio to discuss the arrival of Britain's next prime minister. 1 Podcast Institute for Government No Ministers Civil service Public services Cabinet Leadership election Government reshuffle Foreign affairs Data and digital Labour Reform UK Prime minister Starmer government Number 10 No Reform UK may have dominated the headlines this week, but Westminster's attention is already turni...

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Politics

Burnham should learn from Starmer’s successes and failures on public services

Burnham should learn from Starmer’s successes and failures on public services jack.sanders Fri, 10/07/2026 - 13:45 Keir Starmer squandered the opportunity to reform public services. 5 Comment Stuart Hoddinott Institute for Government Yes Andy Burnham must learn from Starmer’s mistakes if he is to seize the opportunity to push services in a better direction. Public services Health Criminal justice Social care Labour Starmer government No Labour was handed a poor inheritance on public services ...

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Politics

Andy Burnham must act boldly, and early, to drive the regional growth agenda

Andy Burnham must act boldly, and early, to drive the regional growth agenda sam.macrory Fri, 10/07/2026 - 14:47 The new prime minister has the opportunity accelerate the government’s devolution revolution. 5 Comment Rt Hon Ed Balls Institute for Government Yes Starmer invited mayors into Downing Street on the third day of his premiership, but did little thereafter. Devolution Growth Regional economic growth Labour Metro mayor Prime minister Starmer government No Labour’s 2024 victory promise...

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