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.
Cutting MP numbers could make Parliament more pliant
Reducing the total number of MPs without trimming the payroll vote could restrict the extent of constructive challenge to which government is subject.
Is the House of Commons stuck in the 19th century?
MPs seem oblivious of how bad media coverage of Parliament must look to the electorate.
Parliament resumes – and the Brexit action is in the Lords
This is only the beginning of what is likely to be a very tense autumn in Parliament.
The influential Brexit group the Government doesn’t want you to know about
The Inter-Ministerial Group is like a dragon’s den for Brexit no deal.
Only the beginning of the Government’s ‘no deal’ Brexit preparations
Big questions remain over citizens’ rights and, of course, the Northern Ireland border.
A care ISA can’t fix social care
The government will need to propose a lot more than just a care ISA to meet the current service challenges.
We've always been heading for a 'blind Brexit'
It is easier, both practically and politically, to get the UK out of the EU and worry about the detail of the future relationship later.
Mr Hunt goes to Berlin and Paris (to talk Brexit)
The new Foreign Secretary and the FCO need to get their messaging on Brexit right
Breaking the public service pay cap will not solve recruitment and retention problems
Lifting the public sector pay cap was a necessary step towards solving the Government’s workforce woes – but other issues still need to be addressed.
The Irish border question is turning into a very expensive game of chicken
With fundamental differences between the two sides’ proposals, and deadlines approaching, talk of no deal is starting to spread.