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.
The government must focus on public protection when it comes to prison releases
There are no easy answers to meeting the prison capacity challenge.
Demolishing DSIT risks losing focus, expertise and coordination
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology made sense.
Burnham’s devolution agenda can lay strong foundations for public service reform
The new PM needs to align the boundaries of services in local areas.
Fixing relations with MPs will require more than warm words from Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham should be prepared to redistribute power in Parliament.
Burnham is right to create an Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Reforms to No10 and the Cabinet Office must be more than a rebranding exercise.
Andy Burnham’s ID card surprise is very unsurprising
Keir Starmer’s digital ID plan was a lesson in how not to approach policy making.
Andy Burnham needs a new fiscal strategy that deals with the tax lock
Tough choices on tax and spend await the next prime minister.
Making press releases more political won’t improve how government communicates
A better approach to policy making is the best way to strengthen government communications.
Burnham will need to work hard to avoid his time being consumed by foreign affairs
The next prime minister should consider appointing a big hitter foreign secretary
Government must improve fraud prevention before the next crisis
Module five of the Covid inquiry shows the need for better procurement and use of data.