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.
The underwhelming schools white paper is a missed opportunity
The white paper lacks vision, is full of technocratic tweaks, and has failed to take on the post-covid education recovery mission
The Department for Work and Pensions is not learning Covid lessons
Nick Timmins is far from impressed with the DWP’s response to an IfG/Social Security Advisory Committee paper
A tax strategy is needed but Rishi Sunak’s plan falls short
Rishi Sunak’s tax strategy has failed to deliver a shift towards a better designed system
How to fix Westminster's WhatsApp problem
To guard against poor decision making and reduced transparency, more coherent – and better enforced – guidance is needed
Foreign Office failures go beyond the Nowzad decision
The question of who decided to evacuate an animal charity from Kabul matters for political accountability
Six things we learned from the 2022 spring statement
Before the statement, we set out six things that the Institute for Government was looking out for in the chancellor’s announcement.
The government needs a comprehensive plan for surviving without Russian gas
The UK government should do more to prepare for the high prices and supply problems that the UK would face if Russia’s gas exports to Europe are cut o
The Home Office’s botched Ukraine crisis response needs an urgent rethink
The Home Office is struggling with its flat-footed approach to handling the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
Ukraine won’t get a no-fly zone now – but might just get fighter jets
President Volodymyr Zelensky has a better chance with his call for fighter planes than a no-fly zone
Sunak's economic growth philosophy: right focus, but sidestepping solutions
The chancellor is focusing on addressing the UK's flagging growth but overlooking the need for a more interventionist approach