What Priti Patel's resignation reveals about being a minister
Nicola Hughes
09 November 2017

While it’s right that Priti Patel has taken responsibility for her actions, Nicola Hughes argues that many ministers continue to be undone by the most basic mistakes.

Ministers Reflect / Professional development
The Prime Minister expands her Brexit war Cabinet
Jill Rutter
07 November 2017

The changing membership of Cabinet committees indicates that the Government is gearing up for the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, argues Jill Rutter.

Brexit / Brexit > Negotiations / Brexit > Whitehall
Advice to Gavin Williamson
Daniel Thornton
07 November 2017

The new Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has plenty of critics he needs to prove wrong. Daniel Thornton advises him to learn from his predecessors.

Ministers Reflect / Professional development
The politics of the Budget means it will be a fudge
Julian McCrae
03 November 2017

The Government - along with the Chancellor - finds itself in a tricky political position ahead of this month’s Budget. The politics make it inevitable that many key decisions will be fudged, argues Julian McCrae.

Public services / Whitehall
Westminster can learn from the history of women in Whitehall
Dr Catherine Haddon
02 November 2017

The way harassment is dealt with in Whitehall has changed significantly in the last 30 years – particularly the culture that said you just had to put up with it, says Dr Catherine Haddon.

Parliament / Whitehall
Could the UK bank on a “basic” no deal?
Alex Stojanovic
01 November 2017

The Brexit Secretary says that no matter what happens with EU negotiations, “we will have some sort of basic deal”. Alex Stojanovic argues that even the most basic deal will be difficult to agree and disruptive to trade.

Brexit / Brexit > Negotiations / Brexit > Trade & Immigration
The problem with a sticking plaster approach to adult social care comes when you take it off
Lucy Campbell
31 October 2017

The latest social care data shows that the Government must start planning now for what will happen when the money runs out, argues Lucy Campbell.

Performance Tracker / Public services
How Michael Heseltine got things done in government
Tess Kidney Bishop
27 October 2017

A new series of candid interviews with former ministers reveals what today’s cohort could learn about making a success of ministerial office. The most important lessons for getting things done come from Lord Heseltine, argues Tess Kidney Bishop. 

Ministers Reflect / Professional development
Three things the Government can do to make better public spending decisions
Dr Alice Lilly
26 October 2017

Our latest Performance Tracker report finds government trapped in a costly ‘crisis, cash, repeat’ cycle of spending decisions. Dr Alice Lilly says there are three ways it can break out of this cycle —and there are signs of steps in the right direction.

Performance Tracker / Public services
Building the Heathrow third runway is about politics, not evidence
Nick Davies
25 October 2017

New government forecasts suggest that an extra runway at Gatwick Airport would be more beneficial than one at Heathrow. But these new forecasts are creating yet another delay in what is essentially a political decision, argues Nick Davies. 

Policy making

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