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.
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.
Government sees some sense at last on the Retained EU Law Bill
Rishi Sunak and Kemi Badenoch were right to face down their critics and amend the Retained EU Law Bill.
Local elections: four things we learned
Peter Hourston looks beyond the headlines to identify four key takeaways from the 2023 local elections in England.
The government’s plans for general practice will do little to improve patient access
Rishi Sunak's plan for general practice is welcome, but it will remain difficult for patients to access the service.
Civil service politicisation is the wrong answer to the wrong question
Politicisation of the civil service is a solution that risks neither fixing its problems nor delivering its supposed advantages.
Rishi Sunak would be right to ditch the Retained EU Law Bill
Rishi Sunak seems to be aligning himself with the Brexit supporting practical pragmatists, rather than with the impractical ideologues.