Afleveringen
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The IfG DevoLab is dedicated to exploring the innovations enabled by devolution, learning from the results, and sharing the lessons so that places can take better decisions about how to use devolved powers and budgets.
We were in Sheffield for the fifth DevoLab event, where three speakers set out how mayors and local leaders can build and sustain a shared vision for growth across their regions.
The three case studies presented at IfG DevoLab #5 were:
‘Developing a shared vision for growth in South Yorkshire’, by Kate Josephs CB, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council
‘Corridors of Growth in a Polycentric City Region’, by Tony Reeves, Chief Executive of Wakefield Council
‘Delivering an inclusive growth strategy in the East Midlands’, by Damien Dacey, Executive Director of Strategy and Inclusive Growth at the East Midlands County Combined Authority
The three speakers were joined by Pete Gladwell, Group Managing Director, Public Investment at L&G, for a broader discussion on how mayors can work effectively with partners across their region, build consensus around shared priorities, and sustain ambition as political contexts shift.
This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.
Insights from this discussion will inform a published policy briefing containing the three case studies and a synthesis of key lessons.
The Institute for Government would like to thank L&G for its support for this event and for its wider support of the IfG DevoLab series. -
Five years on from the merger of the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development, this is a pivotal moment for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The government is managing the reduction in the international aid budget, the department is undergoing a major restructuring, and its permanent secretary was sacked by the prime minister.
With fewer resources, evolving security threats and diplomatic challenges, the government should be seizing this moment to integrate diplomacy and development.
Recent research from the HALO Trust and the Eleanor Crook Foundation has shown how modern conflict is increasingly interconnected with challenges such as food security and malnutrition – and that unless these and other pressures are addressed in a genuinely joined‑up way, the UK risks operating in siloes.
But how joined up is diplomacy and development, and can the department both retain its leadership role in international development and protect the UK’s national interest?
How should the Foreign Office approach these challenges when staff numbers are falling and its budget is shrinking? What principles should guide the merged department through this time of change? And what is the government’s overall approach to UK foreign policy and development and how is it seeking to achieve it aims?
Drawing on the IfG’s existing and ongoing research and commentary on the FCDO and its predecessors, and a series of previous successful events on similar themes, this event explored these questions and more with an expert panel featuring:
Major General James Cowan CBE DSO, Chief Executive Officer of the HALO Trust
Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government
Ben Judah, Writer, and Visiting Fellow at Chatham House
Dame Emily Thornberry MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
This event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government and there were opening remarks from Gemma Tumelty, Director of UK Advocacy at the Eleanor Crook Foundation.
We would like to thank the HALO Trust and the Eleanor Crook Foundation for kindly supporting this event. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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The worthy aims of the NHS’s prevention shift include reducing childhood obesity, cutting the prevalence of smoking, and tackling harmful alcohol consumption. But previous Institute for Government work shows that shifting to prevention is incredibly difficult, with successive governments’ actions rarely meeting lofty rhetoric.
So, one year on from the launch of the 10-year health plan, how much progress has the government made on its prevention goal?
This event brought together a panel of experts to discuss the following questions:
What has the government done to shift the NHS towards prevention since July 2025?
How is the government assessing its own progress on this shift? What would demonstrate success in its eyes by the next election?
Where has it made the most progress? Where has progress been slower?
What does the NHS bill mean for the prospects of future progress?
What are proving to be the particular stumbling blocks to implementation within the department, central government and local systems?
What could the government do to push this agenda ahead faster?
To explore these questions and more, this event brought together a panel featuring:
Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety
Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation
Ravi Gurumurthy, Group Chief Executive Officer at Nesta
Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy, Information and Communications at Cancer Research UK
The event was chaired by Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.
We would like to thank Nesta for kindly supporting this event. -
Andy Burnham will surely become prime minister in a matter of weeks. But what kind of government would he lead and how can he prepare for the biggest job in British politics?
As Burnham sets out his policy priorities, and with much speculation about the key appointments he will make to his top team, this webinar brought together leading IfG experts to explore the challenges awaiting the next prime minister – and the skills and he experience he will need for job.
How can Burnham best use the time available to prepare for succeeding Keir Starmer as prime minister? What are the decisions that need to be taken before a transition of power? What do we know so far about the choices he could make on personnel and policies? And how will Burnham’s experiences of Mayor of Greater Manchester equip him for the job of prime minister?
Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government. -
The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome Dan Tomlinson MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, to share his experiences as the sole departmental minister for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs – and set out his vision for transforming the department.
What will the shift to “digital by default” mean for HMRC’s performance, culture and operating model? How can digital transformation improve customer service? And what have the minister’s 10 months in the role taught him about the way HMRC works and how it can be reformed?
Following his keynote speech, Dan Tomlinson was in conversation with IfG Chief Economist Thomas Pope and took part in an audience Q&A. -
Boys from families living on low-incomes have been ‘left behind’ in early years policy making for decades. Nearly three in five boys from low-income families are not reaching a good level of development by the end of reception year, with long-term effects on their later educational attainment, job prospects, health and wellbeing.
Two reports from the Institute for Government (IfG) – supported by Impact on Urban Health – set out how the government can ensure this group is not left behind in the implementation of its early years policy agenda over the next 12 months.
Why have successive governments overlooked the needs of boys from low-income families? Where are promising models and practices already making a difference? What practical lessons do they offer central government as it works towards its target of 75% of five-year-olds being ‘school ready’ by 2028?
To explore these questions and more, this event brought together a panel featuring:
Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
Candice James BEM, Director of the Loughborough Community Centre
Miriam Loxham, Senior Principal, Early Years and Family Help at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Alistair Strathern MP, Member of Parliament for Hitchin and Co-chair of the Labour Group for Men and Boys
Shaina Sangha, Researcher at the Institute for Government, started the event with a presentation of key findings from the reports.
The event was chaired by Sophie Metcalfe, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.
We would like to thank Impact on Urban Health for kindly supporting this event. -
The Covid-19 pandemic saw the government spend hundreds of billions of pounds to buy PPE, keep businesses afloat and avoid mass redundancies. In the heat of this once-in-a-generation crisis, decisions were made that enabled widespread fraud by both individuals and organisations – leading to an estimated £10.9 billion of Covid-19 spending being lost to fraud and error.
In December 2024, the chancellor appointed Tom Hayhoe as the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner to scrutinise Covid spending, explore how public funds could be recovered and make recommendations to prevent fraud in the future.
So what could government have done differently to respond quickly to the pandemic while avoiding the vast scale of fraud? What should government do now to ensure there are more robust checks and balances ahead of the next crisis? How can departments and organisations better work together to prevent fraud across the public sector? And how will cultural and technological changes since the pandemic, including the growth of AI, impact the nature of public sector fraud and government’s ability to tackle it?
To discuss this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:
Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption
Tom Hayhoe, Chair of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and formerly the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner
Joshua Reddaway, Director of Fraud and Propriety at the National Audit Office
Rachael Tiffen, Director of Public Sector & Learning at Cifas
The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. -
The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome Kemi Badenoch to give a keynote speech on Tuesday 9 June at 10:30am.
Following her speech, the Leader of the Opposition was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, and took part in a Q&A with the audience. -
An expert panel drew on lessons from the recent assisted dying bill and other PMBs to consider how backbench MPs should approach complex issues.
While historically major social reforms – such as decriminalising homosexuality or legalising abortion – have been introduced through private members’ bills (PMBs), most backbench attempts to legislate that do not begin with government support fail to make it onto the statute book. The Procedure Committee has undertaken extensive work and made proposals for reform, but the deficiencies of the PMB process remain largely hidden from public view.
With the attempted passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill shining a spotlight on the PMB process, this Institute for Government event will explore the value and effectiveness of PMBs, and the wider role of backbenchers in shaping policy. Is the current process fit for purpose when it comes to issues that divide opinion and stir public debate? Are there other options that parliament should consider for backbench MPs to raise, debate and legislate on critical social issues?
To discuss this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:
Paul Brand, UK Editor at ITV News
Dr Daniel Gover, Senior Lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University London
Kim Leadbeater MP, sponsor of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
Luke Norbury, Parliamentary Counsel at the Cabinet Office
The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. -
Ministerial resignations, letters of no confidence, and Andy Burnham’s determination to return to Westminster have rocked Keir Starmer’s premiership. Plenty of twists and turn await in the coming weeks, with the work of government continuing under a cloud of uncertainty.
So how can a prime minister lead a government if their authority is being questioned by their own MPs? What would a Labour leadership contest mean for the way government operates? What is the impact of this volatility on the civil service and the government’s legislative programme? Do Wes Streeting’s accusations of Starmer’s lack of vision and direction stack up – and, if so, how should this or another PM approach the job in a different way?
To discuss all these questions, and make sense of what a return to chaos means for British government, this expert IfG webinar featured:
Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the Institute for Government
Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. -
The government has introduced the Representation of the People Bill to lower the voting age to 16, change how electoral rules are enforced and – potentially – introduce new restrictions on political donations. But embedding new processes for registering to vote, changing how electoral rules are enforced, and ensuring there is clear information for 16- and 17-year-olds will all take time – and affect the work of the Electoral Commission, local authorities, schools, civil society groups and others in the run-up to the next general election.
So, what needs to happen after the Bill gets Royal Assent? How will the Bill change the remit of the Electoral Commission – and is the Commission prepared? What do local authorities need to do to get ready? What information will new voters need? And what needs to change culturally as well as administratively?
To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:
Harriet Andrews, Director of The Politics Project
John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission
Prof. Alan Renwick, Director of the Constitution Unit at UCL
Clare Sim, Head of Member Support at the Association of Electoral Administrators (joining remotely)
The event was chaired by Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government. -
The children’s social care market is often described as “broken” – including by the government itself. Too many children end up in unsuitable settings, the quality of care varies sharply across the country, and costs have risen to levels that put severe pressure on local authority budgets.
So, what does the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which has recently received Royal Assent, mean for the government’s programme to reform children’s social care?
After a short presentation on new analysis from the Institute for Government, this event – featuring the Minister for Children and Families – examined how government can ensure its reforms are implemented effectively and deliver lasting improvements in children’s social care.
To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:
Amber Dellar, Researcher at the Institute for Government
Josh MacAlister OBE MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families) at the Department for Education
Rachael Wardell OBE, Immediate Past President of the Association of Directors of Children's Services
This event was chaired by Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. -
With a crucial set of local and devolved elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday 7 May, the Institute for Government devolution team hosted an expert webinar the day after to discuss the results so far.
What is the likely composition of the new governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff and what will be their policy priorities? What are the implications for UK-devolved relations? And what do election results in county councils, London boroughs, district and unitary authorities across England mean for the government’s local government reorganisation and devolution plans?
To discuss these questions and more, including from the live online audience, were the IfG’s expert devolution and local government team:
Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher for Devolution at the Institute for Government
Megan Isaac, Research Assistant for Devolution at the Institute for Government
Harriet Shaw, Researcher for Devolution at the Institute for Government
This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution at the Institute for Government. -
The Palace of Westminster is one of the world’s most recognisable historic buildings and the home of the UK parliament. Yet much of the estate is in urgent need of repair. While debates over how to approach the Restoration and Renewal programme have continued for over a decade, other countries have already moved ahead: Austria has completed the renovation of its parliament, and Canada’s is well underway.
In February, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board set out updated costings and recommended two possible paths forward – full decant or enhanced maintenance and improvement. Parliament is expected to debate the Client Board’s report in the coming weeks.
With the stage now set for parliament to embark on a project that will not only safeguard this historic landmark but also reimagine it for future generations, this IfG event explored lessons from other international projects, and discuss what the Restoration and Renewal programme could mean for parliament, industry and the wider public.
To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:
Jennifer Garrett, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Parliamentary Precinct Branch of the Government of Canada (joining remotely)
Dr Alexandra Meakin, Lecturer in British Politics at the University of Leeds
Jack Pringle, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Nick Smith MP, Chair of the House of Commons Administration Committee
The event was chaired by Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.
We would like to thank RIBA for kindly supporting this event. -
Our third webinar in a three-part series focused on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026.
The third Whitehall Monitor webinar – the final in a three-part series exploring the IfG’s annual flagship report on the civil service – took a deeper look at the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale, and considers the crucial role of, and challenges facing, civil service leadership today.
The webinar featured:
Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026
Tom Fitzlucas, People and Change Expert at PA Consulting
Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026
The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the IfG.
Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG’s annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025.
We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event. -
On Thursday 7 May, voters in Scotland and Wales will elect the members of the devolved parliaments in Edinburgh and Cardiff. A change of government is expected in Wales, where Labour trails both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in the polls. In Scotland, by contrast, the SNP is forecast to take a fifth successive victory, potentially with an outright majority, which the party will claim provides a mandate for an independence referendum.
What are the probable electoral and government formation scenarios? What will the results mean for how Scotland and Wales are governed? What challenges and opportunities will face the incoming first ministers? And what are the potential implications for Westminster and relations between the UK nations? On the eve of these crucial votes, the Institute for Government convened an expert panel to explore what is at stake and what is likely to happen.
On the panel:
Professor John Curtice, Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde
Liz Lloyd, former Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Scotland, Specialist Partner at Flint Global
Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution at the Institute for Government
Jane Runeckles, former Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Wales, FDA National Officer
This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. -
The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister for Housing and Planning, to give a speech on leasehold reform and the move to commonhold.
The speech, in which the Housing Minister spoke about the government's ambitions on ending the feudal leasehold system, follows publication of the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Following the speech, Matthew Pennycook was in conversation with Nehal Davison, Programme Director (policy making) at the IfG, and took part in an audience Q&A. -
Successive UK governments have made immigration policy a high political priority, but no recent government has seemed to meet public expectations in the pursuit of those policies. So, what have recent immigration policies been trying to achieve, and why have so many people ended up unhappy with the outcome?
A new book by Madeleine Sumption explores these questions. Drawing on decades of research, she explores the unavoidable trade-offs governments face, and the impacts of their choices on people and communities.
To answer these questions and more, this IfG event brought together an expert panel, including:
Rt Hon Amber Rudd, former Home Secretary (2016–18) and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2018–19)
Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University and a member of the UK Government’s Migration Advisory Committee
This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the Institute for Government. -
The government is reeling from the revelation that Peter Mandelson was appointed as UK ambassador to the US despite having failed a security vetting process.
With the blame-game dominating the week in Westminster, what will we learn from Keir Starmer's 'judgment day' Commons statement? What will Olly Robbins – who was sacked by the PM as Foreign Office permanent secretary – reveal in a crucial select committee appearance? What has the vetting row shown about the way decisions are made at the top of government? How should the vetting and appointments process be overhauled? And what does this row mean for relations between civil servants and ministers?
An IfG expert webinar answered these questions and more.
The webinar featured:
Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government
Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. -
Improving productivity is at the heart of the government’s plans for public services, underpins the ‘strategic and agile state’ and is a critical enabler for many of its ambitions for the future.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has been drawing on experience from the public and private sector to make sure the 2027 spending review consolidates and furthers the government’s productivity drive.
This builds on the work already underway within the government through the Office for Value for Money and its departmental target of 2% productivity, efficiencies and savings.
But what has the government achieved so far? How is HM Treasury supporting productivity improvements across government and monitoring departmental efficiency plans? What is the Chief Secretary doing to push this agenda on?
To explore these questions and to discuss his priorities and approach, the Institute for Government was pleased to be hosting Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Professor Andy Westwood, Policy Director at The Productivity Institute made opening remarks. James Murray was then in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.
This event was kindly supported by The Productivity Institute (TPI). - Laat meer zien
