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Move fast and fix things: Modernising Whitehall to deliver for Britain

Keynote speech from Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Darren Jones MP.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, giving a speech. Behind him is a background with the IfG and What 3 Words logos, and text which reads: Move fast. Fix things.
Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, unveiled his plans to modernise Whitehall.

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Following the publication of Whitehall Monitor 2026, the Institute for Government’s annual data-led analysis of the state of the UK civil service, the IfG was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, to set out why he thinks the status quo isn’t working and update on the government’s efforts to renew the state. He announced his plans to shake up Whitehall and hardwire innovation into government so that it can keep pace with a changing world and grasp the opportunities of the future. 

The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister was introduced by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

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