Inside Briefing
The Institute for Government's weekly podcast, hosted by Dr Hannah White.
Explore all episodes
2025 in review: Starmer's year of drama
The IfG team and the Financial Times’s public policy editor Chris Smyth look back on an eventful 12 months and pick out the big moments of 2025.
Four mayors delayed, three Ministers Reflect, and a House of Lords battle renewed
The IfG's experts are in the studio to discuss the delay to the 2026 mayoral elections, and the government's plans to install more peers in the Lords.
Should the UK do budgets differently?
As Rachel Reeves is accused of misleading the public, the IfG's experts discuss how well the UK does budgets, and Lammy's plans for judge-only trials.
John Swinney’s goals for Scotland
The first minister of Scotland John Swinney drops by the podcast studio, and the IfG's experts discuss immigration reforms and public services.
Keir Starmer’s government: Traitors or Faithfuls?
The IfG podcast team explore what the anonymous briefings to the media against cabinet ministers tell us about how No.10 is working.
Rachel Reeves and the art of pitch rolling the budget
Former Treasury advisers Stewart Wood and Giles Winn reveal how chancellors prepare the ground for budget day.
Home Office truths with Shabana Mahmood
Former Home Office special adviser Hannah Guerin joins the podcast for a deep dive into the woes of one of Whitehall’s most challenging departments.
The Prisons Crisis Strikes Back
Former BBC journalist and Labour adviser Danny Shaw joins the podcast team to discuss the state of the criminal justice system.
Tinker, Tailor, Starmer, Spies?
The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff joins the podcast team explore the row and what it says about the UK’s relations with Beijing.
Lessons in Kemistry
YouGov's Patrick English joined the Inside Briefing team in Manchester to assess the state of the official opposition.