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.
Is it too late for Liz Truss to regain trust?
The PM’s belated acceptance of the basics of good government may not be enough to save her premiership
The government is right to U-turn on a national energy efficiency campaign
The anti-nanny state government was reluctant even to give people basic information to cut their energy bills
Government policies, not a new Treasury permanent secretary, will determine market confidence
It is policy and not personnel that matter for the markets
Three steps the Truss government can take for a Northern Ireland protocol deal
If the UK government is serious about getting a deal this time around, there are three things it must do first.
Conservative and Labour party conferences: key policy takeaways
The IfG team reflect on the Labour and Conservative conferences
An outspoken cabinet is a danger which Liz Truss must learn to navigate
The breakdown of collective responsibility at the Conservative conference added to an atmosphere of chaos
How Liz Truss lost trust
Governments also need to build and maintain confidence in their policy- and decision-making processes
Three steps Liz Truss's new ministers should take to hit the ground running
Timeless lessons new ministers can learn from the experiences of former ministers as they attempt to get to grips with their portfolios.
Mark Fullbrook’s No10 arrangement exposes problems with special adviser recruitment
The system for recruiting special advisers is broken and needs to change
Kwarteng and Truss show the perils of disregarding economic institutions
Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng must respond to their miscalculations by recognising that the UK’s economic institutions are vital national assets