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.
We are entering a new phase of Brexit distractions
Brexit has risked delaying, deprioritising, or simply ignoring key policy areas.
What would it take for the EU to extend Article 50?
The EU27 are actively considering how an Article 50 extension might work, but the UK can’t take it for granted.
Parliament can take control of Brexit – but that won’t solve the impasse
The ‘Nick Boles plan' to wrest control of the Brexit process from Government could work, but it will merely delay rather than solve the Brexit impasse
Parliament has increased the risk of no deal – now it needs to ensure the Government is ready
Having voted overwhelmingly to reject the Brexit deal, Parliament must now make sure that the Government is ready for no deal.
The Prime Minister will find it hard to build a cross-party consensus on Brexit
There is no easy consensus around a deal with the EU.
The historic significance of Theresa May’s defeat
It is hard to overstate the significance of the defeat which the Prime Minister has suffered over her Brexit deal.
After the meaningful vote, what next for Brexit?
The Prime Minister and the various players who are trying to wrest control of the Brexit process have a number of options for what to do next.
Does the US or UK have the more dysfunctional government?
In the UK, the clash between new and old conventions is changing the rules of government.
Brexit’s future is in John Bercow’s hands
The Speaker's decisions will be crucial to the outcome of the vote on the Brexit deal.
The Prime Minister should publish the Withdrawal Agreement Bill now
By delaying the publication of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, the Prime Minister risks merely storing up problems for later.