Incisive commentary from the IfG’s expert team on issues facing government and key ministerial decisions.
From analysis of key political events such as budgets and party conferences to snap responses to unexpected developments such as government reshuffles, our writers set out their views and analyse what government gets right, what it gets wrong, and what it can do better.
Keir Starmer’s next cabinet secretary must learn the lessons from Chris Wormald’s mistakes
The next cabinet secretary needs to be a far more visible civil service leader.
The UK needs a detox from fiscal turmoil
Budget speculation dominated much of 2025. The chancellor’s new year’s resolution should be to avoid a repeat in 2026.
The Peter Mandelson case shows peers need stronger sanctions
Removing a peerage should be a realistic prospect.
The government is wrong to ditch plans for the Audit and Reporting Governance Authority
Ministers have not set out a convincing rationale for scrapping the ARGA project.
Labour should introduce the alternative vote system for mayoral elections
The alternative vote would be fairer and more appropriate than the system the government favours.
A new national police force is the right move, but the case for merging local forces is much weaker
There is much to welcome in the home secretary’s proposals on police reform.
The UK needs a robust growth strategy and a stronger No.10 to deliver it
On growth policy rhetoric is not enough.
The government needs to set out how it will achieve its vision of a modern digital state
Digital transformation has not needed a new vision. It has needed a better plan.
The government should be clear about the trade-offs involved in SEND reform
Decisions about legal safeguards will shape the future SEND system.
Government taskforces are not a long-term solution for the problems facing the state
Darren Jones needs a plan for long-term reforms, as well as short-term delivery.