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
Levelling up: where does government spend money?
The government has committed to tackling regional inequalities as part of its ambition to ‘level up’ different parts of the UK.
Local government unitarisation
Unitarisation is a type of local government reorganisation that replaces county and district councils in ‘two-tier’ areas with a single tier.
Northern Ireland government formation
Northern Ireland has special power-sharing arrangements that require the largest political parties from both communities to be in government.
Michael Russell
Michael Russell reflects on his role as Scottish cabinet secretary for education, and as the minister responsible for UK-EU relations during Brexit.
Public bodies reform
The Declaration on Government Reform published in June 2021 committed the government to “commence a review programme for Arm’s Length Bodies".
Public bodies
Public bodies deliver a public or government service, though not as a ministerial department.
Sue Gray report – what questions will she answer?
This explainer was published when the Sue Gray investigation into government parties held during lockdown was announced.
Sue Gray investigation
Boris Johnson announced an investigation into allegations that Christmas parties in November and December 2020 broke the government’s own Covid rules.
Eric Pickles
Lord Pickles considers his five years as secretary of state for communities and local government.
Vaccine mandates
Vaccine mandates are a way to compel people to get vaccinations.