Institute for Government

COMMENT | Five things we learnt from 14 years of Conservative special advisers The Cabinet Office’s release of the final tranche of information on the Sunak government’s special advisers completes 14 years of data on Conservative spads. So what does it tell us about how the role has changed over an era – 2010 to 2024 – which saw, by our count, approximately 540 special advisers work for the government? Read more: https://lnkd.in/dvd9M8g4

NEW REPORT: How the government can design better asylum policy The government must exert its authority over the whole asylum system and avoid short-sighted measures aimed at conjuring an illusion of control. This report puts forward recommendations to help the government set a clear direction and a coherent asylum strategy rather than the reactive or contradictory decisions made by previous governments. 📄 Read the report from Sachin Savur and Joseph Owen: https://lnkd.in/d6RjERTe

We were delighted to host Catherine Little, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, for an 'in conversation' event with IfG Director and CEO Dr Hannah White OBE. Cat Little discussed how the civil service is planning to deliver the prime minister’s promise to build a ‘government of service’, as well as what the civil service will look like in 2030. 📸 Check out some snippets from the event 💻🎧Watch or listen back to the discussion: https://lnkd.in/d8QxKdSB

The government’s devolution white paper – due to be published before Christmas – will set out the detail of Labour’s promised ‘devolution revolution’. But what exactly will the white paper commit the government to do? Which powers will be devolved, to where? And what challenges lie ahead for the government in implementing this ambitious agenda? Join our webinar on Wednesday 18 December when IfG experts will discuss Labour's plans to extend devolution across England. Our panel includes: ➡️ Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government ➡️ Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government ➡️ Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government ➡️ Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Register now to attend online 📆 📺 https://lnkd.in/eWJTmRYT #englishdevolution #devolution #localgovernment #ukgovernment

Today marks five years since Boris Johnson's Get Brexit Done election. But this anniversary should remind the government of the need for a clear-sighted and realistic strategy for dealing with the EU. Read Jill Rutter's latest comment https://lnkd.in/dbb_v6ZD #brexit #europeanunion #ukgovernment #labourparty

NEW RESEARCH: How can metro mayors transform England’s towns and cities? With 'brownfield first' at the top of the government's golden rules for planning, urban regeneration will be key to delivering the target of building 1.5 million new homes. Mayors have a wide array of powers to drive urban regeneration and can play a leading role. New Institute for Government research sets out lessons for how they can do this, drawing on case studies from across the country. Key findings include: 🏗️ Mayors should set a bold and persuasive vision that can bring stakeholders together and attract public and private investment. 🏗️ Regeneration isn't one size-fits-all and interventions should be designed to meet the needs of a local area. 🏗️ MDCs can turbocharge regeneration, bring benefits of legal powers, streamlined decision making and insulation from political cycles – but getting oversight and accountability right is key. We also set out recommendations for how central government should support mayors in these ambitions, such as by strengthening powers to create spatial development strategies and MDCs, and offering greater support for capacity building within combined authorities. Thanks go to Balfour Beatty plc for supporting this research, and to everyone who shared their insights along the way. https://lnkd.in/dR5-6_JH

[NEW] England’s mayors can deliver the urban regeneration needed for the government to achieve its economic growth targets – but they need to be given more powers and funding certainty. Our latest report argues that more mayoral development corporations are key to getting Britain building. 📺 Watch report author Millie Mitchell discuss how mayors can play a leading role in the regeneration of disused, deprived and deindustrialised urban areas. 📖 Read the full analysis https://lnkd.in/dZG8-Vzr This report is kindly supported by Balfour Beatty plc. #regeneration #devolution #ukgovernment #localgovernment #regionaleconomicgrowth #mayors

The government has found itself criticised in the media and by the opposition for commissioning more than “67 tax-payer funded reviews, taskforces and consultations” since the election. But whether there are 67 reviews underway or not, the key is to learn from how past reviews worked. Read Ben Paxton's latest comment on why reviews have an important role to play in good policy making https://lnkd.in/eqwsW8SB #policymaking #ukgovernment #labourparty

Pat McFadden starts a long haul on public sector reform Senior Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden's call for responsiveness and calculated risk-taking in the civil service is positive – but ministers will need to change too. 📖 Read Alex Thomas and Nehal Davison's reaction to McFadden's speech https://lnkd.in/e3tiaA3B #publicsector #civilservice #ukgovernment #whitehall #civilservants

‘Get Britain Working’ white paper: a bold plan, but will it work? Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall outlined her vision for tackling the root causes of worklessness and getting people back into work. But realising this ambition hinges on sustained cross-government commitment and business confidence – both of which are uncertain, says Nehal Davison. 📖 Read the full comment https://lnkd.in/enD7iQkN #work #employment #ukgovernment #policymaking