Working to make government more effective

Hybrid event

In conversation with the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP

Sajid Javid shared his experiences at the heart of government to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses at the centre and how they could be fixed.

Sajid Javid speaking on stage at the IfG.
Sajid Javid reflected on some of the biggest problems with the centre of government.

Watch the event

Listen to the event

Over many years Sajid Javid held some of the most senior roles in British government, serving as a secretary of state in six different departments under three different prime ministers – including as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary.

Javid, who will stand down from parliament at the next election, is now a commissioner on the Institute for Government’s Centre Commission. At this ‘in conversation’ event he shared his experiences at the heart of government to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses at the centre and how they could be fixed.

What are the biggest problems with the centre of government? What are the tensions between No.10 and the Treasury? How does the centre work with the rest of government? And how can the priorities of a prime minister best be delivered?

To discuss these questions and more, Sajid Javid was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, followed by a Q&A.

Follow us on Twitter @ifgevents and join the conversation using #IfGCentre.

The Institute for Government’s Commission on the Centre of Government is looking at why No.10, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury do not always work as well as they should and what could be done to radically improve the centre of UK government.

The Centre Commission’s purpose is to produce concrete recommendations for a confident, proactive, coherently-structured centre of government equipped to meet the challenges and take the opportunities of the 21st century and deliver for the people of the UK.

The Commission will report in February 2024.

Related content

11 OCT 2024 Podcast

Gray goes out of fashion

More in Common’s Luke Tryl joins the podcast to explore the Downing Street job moves and what voters want this government to get on and deal with.