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Institute for Government
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16episodes
Episodes
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In conversation with Richard Tice MP, Deputy Leader of Reform UK
1w ago00:46:46Tap to summarizeFollowing the May 2026 local and devolved UK elections, Reform UK is running over 20 local authorities, has two regional mayors, and is the second-largest party in the Welsh parliament. But how would a Reform UK government in Westminster approach complex challenges like rewiring the state, boosting public service productivity, and growing the British economy? On 7 July, the IfG welcomed Richard Tice MP, Reform UK’s Deputy Leader and the party’s business, trade and energy spokesman, to discuss Reform UK’s vision for government. What has the party learned from its experiences in local government across England? How would it approach relations between Westminster and devolved governments? And what policies would Reform UK prioritise if it wins the next general election – and what possible trade-offs would it face in government? Richard Tice was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government.
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IfG DevoLab #5: How can mayors and local leaders create a shared vision for regional growth?
2w ago01:28:26Tap to summarizeThe 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.
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Integrating diplomacy and development: How does the Foreign Office set itself up for success?
2w ago01:07:25Tap to summarizeFive 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.
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The NHS 10-year plan one year on: Is the government shifting the health service towards prevention?
2w ago01:04:30Tap to summarizeThe 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.
Transcribe →Andy Burnham: What to expect from the next prime minister?
2w ago00:38:18Tap to summarizeAndy 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.
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keynote-speech-ifg-dan-tomlinson
2w ago00:56:48Tap to summarizeThe 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.
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How can government close the early years attainment gap for boys from low-income families?
4w ago00:57:39Tap to summarizeBoys 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.
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Lessons from Covid: How to avoid fraud in future crises?
Jun 1101:02:17Tap to summarizeThe 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.
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Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP: keynote speech
Jun 900:58:19Tap to summarizeThe 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.
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Are private members' bills a good way for MPs to decide on difficult policy
Jun 401:01:08Tap to summarizeAn 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.
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