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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:

All Disquiet On The Northern Front Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

Who came off worse in the stand-off between Manchester’s Andy Burnham and London, and what does the confrontation say about Westminster’s real attitude to the regions? With Rishi Sunak launching yet more economic support packages, is the Government’s economic strategy in disarray? A new IfG report reveals exactly what Dominic Cummings’ reforms of Special Advisors is meaning for day-to-day government. Oh, and the Brexit talks. Yes, they’re still going.

“The Treasury and No.10 are paying a price for not treating Manchester strategically.” – Jill Rutter
“Yes, the Brexit talks are about brinkmanship – but it’s also about making any failure look like the other side’s fault.” – Cath Haddon
“Many PMs have complained that No.10 is underpowered compared to departments – and that’s why SpAds have become so important.” – Tim Durrant
“A lot of business leaders didn’t see the sunlit uplands that Michael Gove was seeing” - Jill Rutter
“None of the SPADs we spoke to had anything positive to say about the management of the civil service” – Tim Durrant

Presented by Emma Norris with Jill Rutter, Alex Thomas, Tim Durrant and Cath Haddon. Audio production by Alex Rees

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Driven To Tiers Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

First birthday edition! Is Boris Johnson’s tiers-based compromise on fighting COVID worse than simply biting the bullet of a national lockdown? Is Westminster command-and-control creating an irreparable breach between London, Scotland, Wales and the North of England? And does that road end in full devolution? JACK BLANCHARD, UK politics editor at politico.com, is our special guest.

“It’s very hard to find anyone who thinks the tiers approach is really going to work.” – Jack Blanchard
“We assume that the Government has good reasons for its approach, not just ‘We’re frightened of the lockdown sceptics’.” – Jill Rutter
“There is no worse way to win hearts and minds than to have scenes of angry disagreement like we saw this week.” – Jack Blanchard

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter and Cath Haddon. Audio production by Alex Rees

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EXTRA: Brexit – Deal or No Deal? Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event

The UK and EU have agreed to continue the Brexit negotiations in an effort to resolve outstanding issues such as fishing rights, state aid and governance. Although both sides say they want an agreement, a no-deal Brexit is still possible.

Even if there is a deal, there will be significant changes to how businesses trade between the UK and EU – but this message has failed to cut through. Selling a deal back home – and the compromises it might involve – could also be politically difficult.

In the week of the Prime Minister’s initial deadline for negotiations and a critical meeting of the European Council, our panel takes stock of the Brexit talks and look ahead to what we can expect before the end of the year.

Panellists

Tony Connelly, Europe Editor at RTE News
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
James Forsyth, Political Editor at The Spectator
Sam Lowe, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform

The event is chaired by Georgina Wright, Senior Researcher, Institute for Government

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And The Wind Cries ‘Boris’ Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

Is the smorgasbord of Big Ideas that Boris Johnson announced to the virtual Conservative Conference actually deliverable? Do plans for the Saudi Arabia of wind, expanded social care and a New Jerusalem all at once contradict one another? And as the Corona bills come in, is crunch time on the way for former distributor of good news and sunshine Rishi Sunak? Special guest SALMA SHAH, former advisor to Sajid Javid, joins us for the IfG’s own autumn statement.

“Nobody doubts that the Government can make big announcements. The question is whether they can deliver it.” – Jill Rutter
“This wasn’t a traditionally Conservative speech and this isn’t a traditional Conservative government.” – Salma Shah
“When we hear about 30 year mortgages or social care or offshore wind, it’s fair to wonder why nobody’s delivered them so far. And the answer is, it’s hard.” - Giles Wilkes
“We’ve had two consecutive governments that are, for Conservatives, amazingly uninterested in what business has to say.” – Jill Rutter

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter and Giles Wilkes. Audio production by Alex Rees

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We All Live In A Trade Talks Submarine Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

As the EU gives notice of legal action against Britain, are the trade talks about to enter the Tunnel, the Submarine or total meltdown? Is Lindsay Hoyle right to accuse the Government of holding Parliament in contempt with its overreach on Corona powers? Is a Tory backbench rebellion brewing already – and could some internecine warfare be a good look for embattled Boris Johnson? And can Dominic Cummings just snap his fingers and bring a billion-dollar tech giant to life just like that?

“This looks like an increasing war between backbenchers and Boris Johnson and his advisors.” – Jill Rutter

“The Government thinks that under these circumstances, Parliament should be a rubber stamp. But MPs think you make better policy by debating it.” – Hannah White

“It’s not always a bad look for a PM to be fighting a lone battle, as long as it’s for the right thing.” – Giles Wilkes

“The Government seems in tune with public opinion but not with the libertarian wing of its own party.” – Jill Rutter

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Hannah White, Jill Rutter and Giles Wilkes. Audio production by Alex Rees

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Freeze A Jolly Good Furlough Sep 25, 2020

Show notes

As the COVID outlook worsens dramatically, can Boris Johnson make another six months of restrictions stick? Is Rishi Sunak’s new Job Support Scheme just the old furlough in disguise, and will it hold back a tide of autumn job losses? And how prepared are public services for an extended crisis? Special guest Sir David Lidington, former de facto Deputy Prime Minister, explains the consequences of a new near-lockdown for consumer confidence, public health and the Government’s stability.

“If you don’t get the tax receipts coming in from the economy then you’ll have some very difficult decisions about public spending.” – David Lidington

“The Government needs to be seen to reach out… Metro mayors and local authorities need to be partners not adversaries.” – David Lidington

“MPs who brief the papers about how unhappy they are generally do not speak for the majority of the Parliamentary party” – David Lidington

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Nick Davies and Gemma Tetlow. Audio production by Alex Rees

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Test Botch Special Sep 18, 2020

Show notes

What has gone so wrong with the Government’s “world-beating” COVID response? After a summer of confusion, can the “moonshot” get the Government’s pandemic policy back on course, or is it just more spin? And can its audacious Internal Market Bill make it through the Commons and Lords without being amended out of all recognition? Special guest Anoosh Chakelian of the New Statesman joins us to discuss Boris Johnson’s two biggest headaches.

“From the start this Government has been putting spin and rhetoric before levelling with the public.” – Anoosh Chakelian
“If Boris Johnson is having deep conversations with MPs in the tea room, you know they’re spooked.” – Anoosh Chakelian

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jess Sargeant, Tom Pope and Alex Thomas. Audio production by Alex Rees

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Specific and Limited Chaos Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

As Boris Johnson attempts to feed the Withdrawal Bill into a shredder marked “Internal Market Bill”, what does it mean for the rule of law, civil servants and the devolved nations when a government tries to abrogate international law? And as a new IfG report shows the Government’s plans to reach zero carbon by 2050 are way off track, what does it need to do to meet this ambitious target – and what will it cost?

“I can’t see any way this gets through the Lords in its current form.” – Alex Thomas

“The nature of the law is, you don’t get to choose when to follow it – because it’s the law.” – Raphael Hogarth

“Some of the rationale for this is reasonable and some of it is Mad Max chaos and destruction.” – Alex Thomas

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Maddy Thimont-Jack, Alex Thomas and Raphael Hogarth. Audio production by Alex Rees

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Simon’s on the Case Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

It’s all change at the top of the Civil Service as the youngest Cabinet Secretary in over a century begins his job next week. But who is Simon Case? Why has he got the job? And what are the big tasks lining his in-tray?

Plus - despite everyone around him taking the fall, Gavin Williamson still remains in post at the Department for Education, but what does this say about the accountability of ministers? And as schools reopen and people are urged to return to the office, we’ll look back at Government decision making in the first phase of the pandemic.

“The key is having the Prime Minister’s confidence in your own authority” - Cath Haddon
“The real issue in terms of ministerial responsibility is that other people have gone” - Cath Haddon
“The Dept for Education made grade inflation their issue, which is why we ended up where we did” - Chris Wilkins
“At DfE you fix the last battle and another one comes onto the horizon” - Alex Thomas
“How much sympathy do you give the Government for a lack of information?” - Cath Haddon

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Alex Thomas and Sarah Nickson. Audio production by Alex Rees.

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Return to Brexit Island Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

Brexit may be Done but it’s about to rise from the grave as we get closer to Dec 31. The IfG’s Brexit Team convene to look ahead to a tumultuous autumn. Are the EU:UK negotiations really going as badly as it seems? What’s the very last moment when a deal could be struck? Are cash-strapped, COVID-battered businesses in any shape to deal with a new customs regime, let alone No Deal? And what’s actually going to change for UK citizens on Jan 1, 2021?

“Businesses are faced with one big difficulty which is, what exactly are the preparing for?” – Joe Marshall
“The EU always wanted a deal with the UK but they were never prepared to offer Britain a better deal than, say, South Korea.” – Georgina Wright

Presented by Hannah White with Georgina Wright, Joe Marshall and Maddy Thimont-Jack. Audio production by Alex Rees

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