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Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government — Government
Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

The first Labour government in 14 years is facing a daunting to-do list and complex challenges at every turn. Public services are under strain. The civil service is under pressure. And ministers must deliver the government’s missions and milestones. But could Keir Starmer’s plan to “rewire the British state” – through using AI and creating a “start-up” culture – turn these challenges into opportunities?
So where is government working well and what is it doing badly? What can be done to make No10, the Treasury and the rest of government function more effectively? What can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves do to achieve faster economic growth? What will Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives and the other opposition parties do to hold the government to account? How might Donald Trump shape British politics – and how could the UK’s relations with the EU change in the years ahead?
Get behind the scenes in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond on the weekly podcast from Britain’s leading governmental think tank, where we analyse the latest events in politics and explain what they mean. Every week on Inside Briefing, IfG director Hannah White and the team welcomes special guests for a thought-provoking conversation on what makes government work – and how to fix it when it doesn’t.

Copyright: © Institute for Government

Latest Episodes:

Levelling Up or Spreading the Jam? Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

Boris Johnson finally tells us what “levelling up” means – or does he? Is it about fixing up towns, enhancing job prospects or just more Boris boosterism? We look inside the PM’s big Levelling Up launch with special guest Ben Chu, Economics Editor of BBC Newsnight. Plus the Government narrowly wins its widely-denounced bid to cut the International Aid Budget. Will voters care that Johnson has broken a key manifesto promise? And a new report the Commission For Smart Government says government must reform urgently or fail. Is it right?

“Even after this speech we’re still not quite clear what levelling up means.” – Gemma Tetlow
“If your levelling up has a redistributive element then it’s got to be paid for. Whatever Johnson says, that means the more prosperous parts of the country.” – Ben Chu
“Johnson did seem to address his appeal for ideas from local leaders only to Conservative authorities, not Labour areas…” – Alex Thomas

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Alex Thomas and Gemma Tetlow. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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COVID: They think it’s all over Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

The Government’s rationale for unlocking aggressively is that the vaccine has broken the link between COVID infections and deaths. Is it a gamble, a sensible move or just a victory for the Cabinet’s Economic hawks? We ask special guest John Rentoul, chief political commentator of the Independent. Plus, how much substance is there to the Government’s ‘Green Recovery’ programme? And with England in the Euro 2020 final, does sporting success really give Governments a bounce?

“The ‘irreversible’ aspect doesn’t matter. People are quite used to Boris Johnson reversing on anything and everything.” – John Rentoul
“We’re now experiencing a major outbreak of infections. The question is how is the Government going to ride the exit wave?” – Tom Sasse
“Footballers used to be of interest only for their wives and girlfriends. Now they’re sympathetic tribunes of the people. It’s extraordinary.” – John Rentoul

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Alex Thomas, Tom Sasse and Rosa Hodgkin. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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Hancock: Tryst Issues Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

What have we learned from the Hancock Affair and the messy defenestration of the former Health Secretary? In a murky world of ‘non-executive directors like Gina Coladangelo, what on earth is “NED-washing”? And the much-battered Ministerial Code is back in focus. We hear from special guest Paul Harrison, former No.10 spokesman and former Health Dept advisor. Plus, what’s in new Health Sec Sajid Javid’s in-tray?

“If you’re appointing your mates then you’re probably not bringing in the best people.” – Alex Thomas
“The system of regulation ministerial conduct is kind of mad and medieval… The PM decides if you’ve broken the Code, and that’s often subjective.” – Paul Harrison
“It sounds like Gina Coladangelo’s role was to advise Matt Hancock personally – which is not what a non-executive director is supposed to do.” – Cath Haddon
“The extent of the outcry on Hancock is actually quite encouraging, because it shows how little corruption actually happens.” – Paul Harrison

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Alex Thomas and Graham Atkins. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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A Deal Down Under Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

Britain signs its first entirely new post-Brexit trade deal, with Australia. What does it mean for British farmers? Will shoppers notice the savings of 70p per person per year? And will Brits really want to p-p-pick up a Tim-Tam? Will Grant Shapps’ new “Great British Railways” fix the mess of Britain’s trains? Plus, how does Michael Gove plan to transform government – and what is “accountability fudge”?

• “In Australia there’s a sense that the deal rights the historic wrong of the UK ‘abandoning’ Australia when it joined the EU.” – Sarah Nickson

• “People will be relieved that the Australian deal is done – but it’s not earth-shattering.” – Matthew Gill

• “The acid test of Great British Railways is, does it mean we’ll never have a timetabling fiasco again?” – Jill Rutter

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter, Matthew Gill, Sarah Nickson and James Kane. Audio production by Robin Leeburm. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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G7: There's Summit About Boris Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

As the G7 in Cornwall marks the first major summit of the post-COVID era, can Boris Johnson steer conversation away from the worsening Northern Ireland Protocol situation towards his preferred theme of Global Britain? We hear from Tom Newton Dunn, chief political commentator at Times Radio and political columnist at the Evening Standard. Plus, inside UK Government’s woeful record on ethics. ‘Freedom Day’ on June 21 in jeopardy. And your guide to the upcoming Sausage War with the EU.

• “The fact that this G7 is even happening is in itself an achievement.” – Tom Newton Dunn

• “What does Boris Johnson want from the G7? He wants to be at the centre of global attention for vaccination and climate change.” – Alex Thomas

• “Politics is a contact sport… the drought of social interaction will lend extra weight to this G7.” – Hannah White

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Hannah White and Alex Thomas. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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EXTRA: Future Covid-19 scenarios: how can the world meet long-term threats? Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Covid-19 will top the agenda at this month's G7 summit in Cornwall. As some countries lift restrictions and near the completion of vaccine rollouts, others face severe outbreaks or progress being derailed by new variants. No country will escape from the Covid crisis alone – a coordinated global plan which covers vaccination, surveillance and health infrastructure is essential.

To discuss how world leaders can meet these challenges and put in place long-term plans for handling the threat of Covid-19, this Institute for Government event saw an expert panel draw on a series of roundtables organised by the IfG and Wellcome Trust.

Our panel included:

Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times
Sir Suma Chakrabarti, former Permanent Secretary, DfID and the Ministry of Justice, and incoming chair of the Overseas Development Institute. President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 2012–20
Dame Una O’Brien, former Permanent Secretary, UK Department of Health; Member of Council, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Professor Gagandeep Kang, Professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, India and Fellow of the Royal Society.

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Wellcome Trust for kindly supporting this event.

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The PM: Why ‘unfitness for office’ doesn't matter Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

What divides the great Prime Ministers from the mediocre and the just plain bad? And how does Boris Johnson measure up in those stakes? Author of The Impossible Office: The History of the British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Seldon and former Government advisor Salma Shah take us on a deep dive into the harsh realities of the country’s most powerful office. Is Boris Johnson really as bad a PM as Dominic Cummings says he is? And is unfitness for office just a myth?

• “Unfitness for office has never disqualified people as Prime Ministers. The question with Johnson is, was he unfit enough?” – Anthony Seldon

• “One of Prime Ministers’ strengths is a complete lack of self-awareness… Otherwise every day would be a duvet day.” – Salma Shah

• “Every PM who’s been less successful has lacked that clear, ruthless vision. You must either have it – or history must throw it on your plate.” – Anthony Seldon

• “Sajid Javid had a knack of making your believe any decision was yours and not his.” – Salma Shah

• “So much of being a Prime Minister is a confidence trick. If confidence collapses, as it did for Theresa May, it’s all over.” – Anthony Seldon

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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Domolition Derby May 27, 2021

Show notes

What should we take from Dominic Cummings’ volcanic testimony before the Commons Heath, and Science and Technology committees, and his excoriation of Matt Hancock? Is Boris Johnson’s No.10 really so chaotic? And if the PM is “unfit for office”, how could Cummings work with him for so long? Special guest Sam Freedman, a former adviser at the Department for Education who has worked with Cummings, helps us sift the rubble from one of Westminster’s most cataclysmic days.

“This wasn’t so much a machine-gunning as a bombardment with shells.” – Bronwen Maddox
“When you’re spending your time in No.10 managing the PM away from big issues then you have a serious problem.” – Jill Rutter
“Johnson behaves like a toddler. All he does is make stupid jokes and try to get attention for himself. You can see how he would be a hindrance in COBRA.” – Sam Freedman
“Cummings gave a picture of an incredibly centralised government, very focused on whiteboards in Downing Street and not the outside world.” – Alex Thomas
“I’ve never seen Cummings as having any intellectual respect for Johnson. He saw Boris as a vehicle for his ideas.” – Sam Freedman
“When you have a Prime Minister who thinks rules are for mugs, you don’t get good government.” – Jill Rutter

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter, Alex Thomas and Sam Freedman. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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Travel: Are You An Amber Gambler? May 21, 2021

Show notes

Will the Indian Variant push back the Great Unlocking of June 21 that Boris Johnson has pinned so many hopes on? Are we looking at the return to tiers or even national lockdowns, and will Conservative COVID hawks wear it? Meanwhile the Government’s advice on international travel continues to baffle. Is “go but don’t go” really good enough? And what can we expect from the COVID Inquiry, just confirmed by government?

“It’s sobering that, if we accept the worst case scenarios, we could be back at the levels of cases that we saw in January and February.” – Giles Wilkes
“Any chair who accepted these terms for the COVID enquiry would not be fit for the job.” – Marcus Shepheard
“Did the Government delay ending travel from India because it wanted a deal with the Indian Government? Absolutely. I’ll be amazed if not.” – Giles Wilkes

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Giles Wilkes, Matthew Gill, Rosa Hodgkin and Marcus Shepheard. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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The Third Way… by Boris Johnson? May 14, 2021

Show notes

What do the thirty bills in that very brief Queen’s Speech tell us about No.10’s true priorities, and whatever happened to social care? How is this delivery-obsessed Government doing against its 2019 manifesto commitments? Plus LATIKA BOURKE, a London-based journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, joins us to look at Australia’s draconian but hugely popular COVID response – and its strangely slothful vaccination effort. What can Britain learn from the way Australia tackled Coronavirus?

• “Economically this Queen’s Speech was disappointing… It’s as if nothing has changed since January 2020.” – Giles Wilkes

• “I’m always amused by this ‘manifesto commitment’ idea you have in the UK, and the idea that governments might keep their promises…” – Latika Bourke

• “I’d like to see what Conservative Party this is. Are they going to deregulate, or invest… or have they found some Third Way?” – Giles Wilkes

• “In Australia, this pandemic feels like something that’s happening to other people somewhere else.” – Sarah Nickson

• “Australia’s isolationist COVID response will damage Australia’s soft power around the world. It’s as if we’ve shirked our responsibilities to the world.” – Latika Bourke

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Giles Wilkes and Sarah Nickson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.

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