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
Civil service recruitment
How are officials recruited to the civil service?
Election of select committee chairs and members in the House of Commons
This explainer sets how select committee chairs and members are elected.
Local government section 114 (bankruptcy) notices
What is a section 114 notice, and why have councils been issuing more of them recently?
Welsh Labour leadership: How Eluned Morgan was selected as first minister of Wales
Eluned Morgan faced a vote in the Senedd on 6 August, where she was nominated as the new first minister.
Mayoral development corporations
What are mayoral development corporations and which mayors are using them?
What is regulation?
Who regulates, how do they regulate, and how is regulation scrutinised?
Whips: what is their role?
Whips are MPs and peers affiliated to a political party appointed to ensure their party colleagues vote according to the leader’s agenda.
Sewel convention
How the Sewel convention works in practice and what happens when devolved consent is withheld.
Robert Halfon
Robert Halfon talks about championing apprenticeships, ministerial visits, and taking a different approach to the role his second time in government.
What was in the 2024 King’s Speech?
The Labour government has set out 40 bills – this explainer takes a closer look at what they are.