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.
What the Chancellor should say in the Budget about the next Spending Review
Philip Hammond must use the Budget to set out a radically different way of running the next Spending Review.
What is the 95% the Prime Minister has signed up to in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement?
If far more of the agreement has gone green, it’s time for both sides to publish the updated text.
A longer Brexit transition is a prize worth pocketing
An extension to the transition period won’t solve the Irish backstop problem, but an extra 12 months is still an offer worth having.
Can Cox change the Commons?
Too many MPs feel there is only a downside to tightening up the bullying and harassment procedures to which they are subject.
Extra money alone will not tackle rough sleeping
The Prime Minister should make rough sleeping a priority for the whole of government.
Let us hope these emergency cash injections for social care are coming to an end
Councils need confidence about future funding to invest prudently, but cash injections are stop-gap solutions.
The UK still isn’t ready for a no deal Brexit
There are still many outstanding issues the Government needs to address before the UK can be ready for a no deal Brexit.
Public bodies and departments’ Code of Good Practice could help – if they were aware of it
The Cabinet Office's blueprint for joint working cannot have impact if leaders of public bodies don’t know about it.
McDonnell is right to talk about Treasury reform
He is right to raise those questions, but the implications of some of what he says could represent a step backwards for effective government.
The data you need to run a government
Many departments do not even know what data they collect on the services for which they are responsible.