IfG Events

Latest Episodes:

How to succeed as a minister Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle are never far away in Westminster. So how should Keir Starmer approach the delicate task of choosing his top team? The prime minister has to strike a balance between ministers’ performance, party management and the government’s policy agenda, while being a minister is a job like no other – there are no regular performance reviews, clear handovers or annual appraisals.

So how can ministers succeed in government and reach the cabinet table? What skills do they need at each rung of the ministerial ladder? How can backbench MPs prepare to become a minister? And how does the prime minister make decisions about who should serve in government?

To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:

Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at the i Paper

Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Rt Hon James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can the government do to improve how the NHS spends money? Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

After a decade of tight funding settlements and the Covid-19 pandemic, Wes Streeting is the latest health secretary trying to improve NHS productivity. But what can the government do to ensure the NHS spends its budget – due to be more than £200bn in 2025/26 – more effectively?

This event, held in partnership with the Health Foundation, explored what the NHS can do to improve productivity – which is vital to improve the quality of services for patients, ensure the NHS is financially sustainable and provide value for money for taxpayers.

What improvements in productivity and health outcomes can technology really deliver? What lessons are there from previous governments’ attempts to make efficiency savings? What options does Streeting really have to drive through reforms? What effect – if any – will the abolition of NHS England and cuts to integrated care boards’ budgets have on driving productivity to improve performance?

To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including:

Helen Buckingham, Chair of Trustees at National Voices

Anita Charlesworth, Senior Economic Advisor at the Health Foundation

Caroline Clarke, Regional Director of the NHS in London

Rachel Sylvester, Political Editor at the Observer

The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event was held in partnership with The Health Foundation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Effective urban leadership: What are the international lessons for England’s mayors? May 26, 2025

Show notes

As part of its devolution agenda, the government is deepening and extending the mayoral model across England. Fourteen regional mayors are now in office, holding powers over transport, skills, housing and planning, economic growth and more. The government eventually wants every region of England to be led by a mayor.

But what are the characteristics of effective mayoral leadership? How should existing and new mayors use their powers and their platform to bring benefits to their regions? And what lessons can England’s mayors learn from international experience?

We held a discussion of these themes, informed by insights from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and its director, Professor Jorrit de Jong, who was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government, and Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does the electoral system need to change before 2029? May 23, 2025

Show notes

Labour’s 2024 manifesto set out a number of big changes aimed at strengthening democratic participation, such as improving voter registration, addressing inconsistencies in voter ID rules and extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds.

Twenty-five years after the introduction of the UK’s political finance regime, and a billion pounds of donations later, the manifesto also committed to “strengthening the rules around donations to political parties” – something that has become more pressing as high-profile actors flirt with introducing significant sums of money into the UK’s party funding system.

So what difference would these proposed changes make to the UK electoral system? Can they reignite voter confidence and engagement in the democratic process? What are the lessons learnt from the 2024 general election about turnout, the voter ID requirement, and candidate abuse and intimidation? And what should the government prioritise to ensure the electoral system is ready for the next general election in 2029 and able to address growing threats?

To reflect on last summer’s election and to discuss how the government’s plans will affect the way elections work, we were joined by an expert panel:

Lewis Baston, Political journalist and author

Matteo Bergamini, Founder and CEO of Shout Out UK

Professor Jane Green, Co-Director of the British Election Study

John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission

The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In conversation with Nick Clegg May 21, 2025

Show notes

The former deputy prime minister set out what this and future governments can learn from the 2010–15 coalition government.

To mark the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010, the IfG was pleased to welcome the Rt Hon Sir Nick Clegg to reflect on the 2010-15 government and the lessons for today’s politics.

Following his speech, Sir Nick was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, and took part in an audience Q&A.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Book launch: ‘Exploring Parliament’ May 19, 2025

Show notes

This event marked official launch of the second edition of Exploring Parliament, a new book which brings together academic insights with real-world perspectives to bring parliament to life for readers. The book’s 73 authors – leading academic experts and parliamentary practitioners – offer an unrivalled insider’s guide to the UK parliament, providing an accessible yet in-depth exploration of how parliament works, its key functions, and the realities of law-making and scrutiny in the UK.

Who are the key players in parliament? How is parliament organised and run? How is the government held to account? How are laws made? And what challenges does parliament face in the future? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by the editors of Exploring Parliament – who made opening remarks, reflecting on the book’s unique approach, and a panel of the book’s authors who discussed their chapters and insights.

This was followed by a Q&A session. Panellists included:

Professor Nicholas Allen, Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London

Dr Sean Haughey, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool

Chloe Mawson, Clerk Assistant at the House of Lords

Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

Margaret McKinnon, Director Member and Members’ Staff Services Team at the House of Commons

Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London (UCL)

The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Introductory remarks were also delivered by the editors Professor Cristina Leston Bandeira, Dr Louise Thompson and Dr Alexandra Meakin.

We would like to thank the Study of Parliament Group for kindly supporting this event.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump challenge: What is a better way to reform government than copying Elon Musk and DOGE? May 16, 2025

Show notes

In contrast to the halting approach to reform from the current UK government, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have moved fast to slash staff and programmes. That has led some of those frustrated with the slow pace of government reform in the UK and elsewhere to see DOGE as a model for radical reformers.

But what are the actual benefits – and costs – of the Trump administration approach? Is there anything to be learnt from DOGE, or is the whole approach misconceived? And what is the better, feasible model for reformers who want to deliver change at rapid pace while avoiding the DOGE template?

To explore these questions and more, the IfG was pleased to bring together an expert panel featuring:

Munira Mirza, former Director of the No.10 Policy Unit

Don Moynihan, Professor of Public Policy, Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan

Jeni Tennison, founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data

Alex Thomas, Civil Service Programme Director at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rewiring the state - Part 2 May 14, 2025

Show notes

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government’s first year in office and the prime minister’s agenda to reform public services and rewire the state.

The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spoke on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury’s speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute’s key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions.

This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute’s existing research to the government’s vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans.

Part 1 includes:

Welcome and opening remarks

Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government

Speech

Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government

Q&A

Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government

Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government

Part 2 includes:

Presentation

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Panel discussion

Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government

Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government

This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rewiring the state - Part 1 May 14, 2025

Show notes

This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute’s existing research to the government’s vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans.

Part 1 includes:

Welcome and opening remarks

Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government

Speech

Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government

Q&A

Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government

Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government

Part 2 includes:

Presentation

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Panel discussion

Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government

Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government

This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From disaster to completion: What can government learn from the Universal Credit story? May 12, 2025

Show notes

Almost 15 years on from the coalition government’s white paper Universal Credit: Welfare that Works, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has finally concluded that its overhaul of the benefits systems is nearly complete. A few thousand people are yet to be transferred from tax credits, income support and Jobseeker’s Allowance, and a rather larger numbers are still on Employment and Support Allowance, but the DWP is confident of completion by the end of the year. The Universal Credit programme board has been closed down and the department plans to publish its version of “lessons learned” from a programme that was meant to have taken seven years from the white paper but will have taken 15.

So what can this and future governments learn from the delivery of this major reform programme? How was the Universal Credit project turned around from near disaster in 2013? And, as it nears completion, what is the impact of Universal Credit?

To explore these questions and more, the IfG was delighted to bring together an expert panel featuring:

Neil Couling, the Senior Responsible Owner for Universal Credit for a decade until March this year

Tom Loosemore, Co-founder of Public Digital and Co-author of Nesta’s report on how to transform government services

Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

Tom Waters, Associate Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies

The event was chaired by Nicholas Timmins, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and author of the IfG’s 2016 report Universal Credit: From Disaster to Recovery?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected