Working to make government more effective

Jordan Urban

Senior Researcher

Jordan is a senior researcher in the civil service and policy making team. He contributes to the Institute’s work on civil service effectiveness and reform, and better policy making. He is currently the lead researcher for the Commission on the Centre of Government.

Jordan studied politics at university. He was co-founder of GovTracker, an initiative tracking the progress of the government’s manifesto pledges, and previously worked at Full Fact and in communications. He helped to build multiple civic technology tools at the 2019 General Election, including one giving students information on whether voting in their home or university constituency would have the most impact. He has been published in the academic journal Political Studies.

09 MAY 2024 Analysis paper

Who runs Whitehall?

A data-led examination of the permanent secretaries and directors general in Whitehall’s 19 main ministerial departments.

15 APR 2024 Comment

The PCS challenge on arms sales to Israel shows the strengths and limits of civil service unions

Civil service unions have a particular responsibility to show restraint on political activity.

22 MAR 2024 Comment

Declining fast stream applications are a warning sign for the civil service

The fast stream is one of the UK’s best graduate schemes.

28 JUL 2022 Report

How should the Foreign Office change now?

The Foreign Office must fundamentally rethink how it can meet the UK’s foreign policy aims in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment.

15 JUN 2022 Comment

Now or never for the Declaration on Government Reform

The government’s civil service reform plan, launched a year ago today, is falling flat and needs proper commitment, warns Jordan Urban.

03 JUN 2022 Explainer

Civil service fast stream

The fast stream is the government’s accelerated development programme for the UK civil service. But how big is it? How many different streams are ther

25 APR 2022 Comment

Government reform should be a higher priority

Sluggish progress is damaging the government's ability to deliver its Declaration on Government Reform

21 APR 2022 Report

Anything to declare?

The government’s civil service reform programme requires increased momentum, clearer plans and renewed attention from senior figures.

16 FEB 2022 Comment

The government would be wrong to force civil servants back to the office full-time

Plans to reform the civil service are premised on more flexible working

31 JAN 2022 Analysis paper

Whitehall Monitor 2022

Major reform is needed for government to respond to crises like the pandemic while simultaneously delivering long-term policy goals.

19 DEC 2021 Report

The 2019 Conservative manifesto half-time analysis

Over half of the Conservative 2019 manifesto pledges are completed or on track – but 41 pledges are at risk of failure or have been delayed.

09 NOV 2021 Report

Pay reform for the senior civil service

The government must commit to ringfencing the £45m needed to fund its promised reform of senior civil service pay or risk undermining job satisfaction