Explainers
Our explainers cover key subjects relating to our work, setting out key facts and figures and answering the most important questions about government.
Explore our explainers
Local elections 2024: the London Assembly
What does the London Assembly do and how are its members elected?
Metro mayors and the 2024 mayoral elections
Voting is taking place for 10 metro mayors across England. How will this process work?
SNP leadership: How will Humza Yousaf be replaced as first minister of Scotland?
How will the SNP elect its next leader?
Local elections 2024: Mayor of the West Midlands
On 2 May 2024, voters in Birmingham and six neighbouring local areas will vote to elect the mayor of the West Midlands.
MPs standing down at the next general election
How many MPs are standing down at the next election, and why?
Local elections 2024: District, borough and unitary councils
On 2 May voters across England will elect more than 2,500 councillors
The Rwanda Act: what next in the courts?
What are the possible legal challenges to the government's Rwanda asylum plan?
Public service productivity
What is public service productivity and how is it measured?
2023 boundary changes
What is happening to constituency boundaries, and why? How are they changing? How are MPs affected?
Ministerial directions
Ministerial directions are formal instructions telling departments to proceed with a spending proposal, despite objection from permanent secretaries.