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.
Major projects: ministers need to face facts
The Government is becoming less confident that its largest projects will be delivered successfully.
On Brexit, sooner or later we will have to talk about immigration
No.10 appears to be assuming the EU will accept the ending of freedom of movement.
Can the Government's new chief scientist transform the role of expert advice in Whitehall?
Departments commit to looking at how they can get most value from their Chief scientific advisers to improve how they use evidence.
Six tests for the Prime Minister's Brexit white paper
The long-promised Brexit white paper needs to give UK negotiators a clear mandate for phase two, rather than more options.
It will take more than big funding announcements to fix health and social care
A cross-party parliamentary inquiry to reform social care funding is the best chance to break the current political deadlock.
A low-key year in Parliament, but it's not all Brexit's fault
The Government’s status as a minority—and Brexit—has significantly curtailed its legislative programme.
The percentage of Freedom of Information (FoI) requests being refused by government has reached a record level.
We now need to see a marked improvement in the Government’s FoI responses, or a convincing justification of why things have changed.
The Home Office offers a fluffy environment for EU citizens in search of settled status
Getting EU citizens' status right would be a big step in restoring confidence that the department can run a new migration system after Brexit.
Government will spend over £10bn on private finance deals this year but can’t tell you if they’re worth it
Any new government review of private finance must build a better picture of whether it is good value.
EU red lines on security cooperation risk an outcome nobody wants
The EU's red lines risk a relationship that dramatically reduces policing and judicial co-operation between the UK and the EU.