Incisive commentary from the IfG’s expert team on issues facing government and key ministerial decisions.
From analysis of key political events such as budgets and party conferences to snap responses to unexpected developments such as government reshuffles, our writers set out their views and analyse what government gets right, what it gets wrong, and what it can do better.
Five reasons we should be troubled by Boris Johnson’s resignations honours
Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list should bring about the end of this damaging convention
The government faces an uphill battle in its judicial review of Covid inquiry WhatsApps
The likelihood is that the court will say the chair should be the one to decide how she goes about the inquiry, and what material she needs to see.
The UK’s new free trade agreements mark a beginning and an end for UK trade policy
As deals with Australia and New Zealand come into force, UK trade policy is likely to become less exciting but no less productive, writes James Kane
Why government is wrong on the Covid inquiry row
Any perception that the chair of the inquiry is being thwarted will be damaging to all involved.
Ministers deserve better support from their private offices
Too often ministers are not getting the support they need from their private offices, say Beatrice Barr and Tim Durrant
Rows over net migration numbers miss the point – Rishi Sunak needs a post-Brexit migration strategy
Rishi Sunak should set clear migration objectives for his whole government to follow
Keir Starmer’s NHS targets are not without risk
Stuart Hoddinott says Keir Starmer’s mission to drive improvement in the health service cannot be built on targets alone
The Suella Braverman speeding ticket row risks becoming another Westminster distraction
Another week focusing on a possible ministerial resignation would be a distraction from the real issues.
Rishi Sunak should drop his apologetic approach to an industrial strategy
Giles Wilkes says former business secretaries are right to call for the PM to focus on the UK’s long-term interests
Speculation about a hung parliament is focused on the wrong precedents
Recent experience shows the main parties should prepare to govern as a minority or an insecure majority.