Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

Ministers Reflect

Interviews with former ministers on the realities of the role and how to be effective in government.

Our Ministers Reflect series of interviews includes more than 150 conversations with former ministers from the UK and devolved governments. They discuss the reality of being a minister, reflect on what they wish they had known about the job before they began, and offer advice to new ministers taking on the role.

Our interviews are regularly used by civil servants, policy makers and academics to inform their work.

Our quote bank compiles some of the best insights from our interviews, categorised by topic.

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 159
11 SEP 2024 Interview

Margaret Hodge

Margaret Hodge discusses being the first ever children’s minister, her struggles with civil servants and the lessons she learnt chairing the PAC.

15 AUG 2024 Interview

Alister Jack

Alister Jack discusses using his business experience, raising the UK government’s profile in Scotland, and disagreements with the Scottish government.

24 JUL 2024 Interview

Robert Halfon

Robert Halfon talks about championing apprenticeships, ministerial visits, and taking a different approach to the role his second time in government.

15 AUG 2023 Interview

Chloe Smith

Chloe Smith talks about serving as constitution minister under three different PMs, her time in the Truss government, and ministerial maternity cover.

17 JUL 2023 Interview

Anne Milton

Anne Milton discusses pastoral support for MPs, whipping during the coalition years and working with opposition whips.

04 JUL 2023 Interview

Hilary Armstrong

Baroness Armstrong discusses handling contentious legislation, the welfare of MPs and influencing reshuffles.

03 JUL 2023 Interview

Patrick McLoughlin

Lord McLoughlin reflects on his long experience of government, how the whips manage parliament and dealing with crises as transport secretary.

21 JUN 2023 Interview

Brandon Lewis

Sir Brandon Lewis discusses the benefit of local government experience, the challenges of the Home Office and his time as Northern Ireland secretary.

07 JUN 2023 Interview

Lord Bethell

Lord Bethell discusses being in DHSC during Covid, the importance of experts in government and 'hating' leaving office

05 JUN 2023 Interview

Robert Buckland

Robert Buckland discusses Brexit’s impact on the law officer role, the end of the Truss government, and managing the courts system in Covid.