Working to make government more effective

Online event

WhatsApp in Westminster: is it good for government?

An expert panel discussed how to get the best out of WhatsApp in Westminster.

Watch the event

Listen to the event

WhatsApp is Westminster’s favourite way of communicating. Widely used across government , it is quick, convenient and easy to use. But WhatsApp also brings problems – it can lead to bad decision making, poor record-keeping and a lack of transparency

So how should ministers, special adviser and officials use WhatsApp to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks? How can the government prevent crucial messages going undocumented? And when is WhatsApp not appropriate for use in government?

Following the IfG’s report on WhatsApp in Government, an expert panel discussed how to get the best out of WhatsApp in Westminster:

  • Lord Bethell, former parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Health and Social Care
  • Hugo Rifkind, columnist and leader writer for The Times
  • Dr Catherine Haddon, senior fellow, Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, associate director at the Institute for Government.

#IfGWhatsApp

 

Related content

22 MAR 2024 Podcast

The prime minister's plot twists

The Spectator’s Isabel Hardman joins the IfG podcast team to discuss Conservative Party plots and Rachel Reeves' speech.