Skip to main content
Institute for Government

Institute for Government

Think_tank | United Kingdom | Centre

Engagement Insights

82
Discussions
0
Participants
0
Total Votes
95
Articles

Discussions from Institute for Government

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...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
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 ...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
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...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

Reflecting on Keir Starmer’s premiership

Reflecting on Keir Starmer’s premiership melissa.ittoo Fri, 10/07/2026 - 17:27 18 Insight paper Tim Durrant Jack Worlidge Jill Rutter Dr Alice Lilly Thomas Pope Stuart Hoddinott Dr Rebecca McKee Institute for Government Yes Keir Starmer announced his resignation on 22 June 2026. Ministers Parliament and the constitution Civil service Public finances Public services Leadership election Cabinet Civil service reform Government reform Labour Prime minister Starmer government Number 10 No The IfG ...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

In conversation with Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

In conversation with Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats lauren.ornsby Tue, 07/07/2026 - 14:19 2 Carlton Gardens, London, SW1Y 5AA Hybrid event Tuesday 14 July 2026, 02:30 Institute for Government Constitutional reform Electoral reform Parliamentary scrutiny Liberal Democrat Institute for Government Tuesday 14 July 2026, 01:30 BST Parliament and the constitution Ed Davey sets out the Liberal Democrats’ priorities for constitutional and electoral reform. The IfG is pleased to welc...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

The radical rewiring of the state: what devolution must deliver

The radical rewiring of the state: what devolution must deliver melissa.ittoo Tue, 07/07/2026 - 16:13 Devolution is a means of building a more capable state: one that can connect prevention, productivity, growth and fiscal sustainability. 7 Insight paper Institute for Government Yes Public services Devolution Public finances Local government Public spending Public sector Health Education and skills No Thomas Johnson The debate about devolution has reached an important moment. The argument abo...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

What should the role of a senior political figure be in preparing for a potential prime minister?

A senior political figure must run Burnham’s Number 10 North sam.macrory Fri, 03/07/2026 - 17:01 A chief secretary to the PM or a deputy prime minister should run No.10 North. 3 Comment Rt Hon Sir David Lidington KCB Institute for Government Yes The Manchester branch of No.10 must be seen to be working for the country as a whole, not just the North West. Civil service Ministers Leadership election Machinery of government Civil servants Labour Chief secretary to the prime minister Deputy prime minister Prime minister Cabinet Office Number 10 No Andy Burnham’s announcement of a “Number 10 North” made good headlines, with his plans to launch an outpost of Downing Street a memorable symbol of the prime minister-in-waiting’s rhetorical commitment to effective regional policy. With a general election three years or less away, Burnham needs to show results quickly. A trusted ally, Caroline Simpson, chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, is in line to head the new office; government offices in the North West are being assessed as potential locations. As with any government reorganisation, there will be upfront costs, especially given the high level of security required. Burnham will be determined to rebut criticism that “Number 10 of the North” is just an expensive white elephant. Having worked both in the Cabinet Office and as deputy to the prime minister, and seen how the two buildings interact, the way decisions are made, and how effective, or not, prime ministers have found No 10’s levers of power, it is clear that the creation of a northern outpost means facing up to three challenges. Burnham must set out the remit of Number 10 North First, what is the remit of the new Manchester-based operation? Burnham speaks about it having responsibility for ensuring delivery of his strategic priority to promote economic regeneration and growth across the country. He also wants it to have a leading role in imposing greater state control over water, energy and

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

Working with private office as a special adviser

Working with private office as a special adviser jack.sanders Tue, 30/06/2026 - 15:11 5 'How to' guide Institute for Government Yes Ministers Civil servants Working with private office as a special adviser No “[The private office is] a team that doesn’t get talked about enough, I think, in terms of their power and influence and really critical role in government.” Former special adviser Different departments have different private office setups, but special advisers will usually have dedicate...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

How special advisers can work with departmental communications teams

How special advisers can work with departmental communications teams jack.sanders Tue, 30/06/2026 - 15:19 6 'How to' guide Institute for Government Yes Ministers Civil servants Working with departmental communications teams No “[The minister] made it very clear to me from the get-go; media coverage was very important to him. So that was very much the focus for me, was to try and drive positive media coverage for him and for the department.” Former media special adviser Ministers rely on commu...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

Northern Soul: Burnham's Manchester No.10 plan

Northern Soul: Burnham's Manchester No.10 plan melissa.ittoo Thu, 02/07/2026 - 16:31 Former de facto deputy prime minister David Lidington joins the podcast to discuss the would-be PM's big speech. 1 Podcast Institute for Government No Civil service Public finances Cabinet Government reshuffle Civil servants Machinery of government Government reform Defence and security Public spending Labour Prime minister Starmer government Number 10 Ministry of Defence HM Treasury No The King of the North ...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

Managing difficult conversations in private office

Managing difficult conversations in private office jack.sanders Tue, 30/06/2026 - 15:22 4 'How to' guide Institute for Government Yes Ministers Civil servants Managing difficult conversations in private office No Because private office teams’ sit between ministers and civil servants, they often need to deliver difficult messages across the department. This can be tricky, giving bad news to ministers or senior officials in particular can introduce challenging power dynamics. However, these con...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion
Politics

Does Andy Burnham have a mandate?

Does Andy Burnham have a mandate? sam.macrory Wed, 01/07/2026 - 14:10 Labour’s opponents are demanding that the next prime minister call an early general election. 5 Comment Catherine Haddon Institute for Government Yes The role of MPs is crucial in giving prime ministers a constitutional mandate Ministers Parliament and the constitution Leadership election General election Labour Prime minister Starmer government No The likely ‘coronation’ of Andy Burnham as the next Labour leader and the UK...

United Kingdom
Join Discussion