Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

Houses of Parliament over the river.

Explainers

Our explainers cover key subjects relating to our work, setting out key facts and figures and answering the most important questions about government.

What is a budget? How are general elections called? What does the cabinet secretary do?  

From topical explanations of cabinet reshuffles or new legislation to the details of parliamentary process or important government institutions, our explainers are easily digestible short-reads.

Compiled by our experts and constantly updated, 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

Filter:
Displaying 1 - 10 of 651
13 AUG 2026 Explainer
Houses of Parliament over the river.

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.

12 AUG 2026 Explainer
Starmer cabinet

Government ministers

This explainer sets out what are the different types of ministers, how they are appointed and what they do.

11 AUG 2026 Explainer
An aerial view of Whitehall and Westminster.

Special advisers

Special advisers (spads) are political appointees hired to support ministers.

03 AUG 2026 Explainer
Sheffield town hall

Regional mayors

Regional mayors are directly elected regional leaders of mayoral strategic authorities. But what do they do?

28 JUL 2026 Explainer
Big Ben and Houses of Parliament on the Thames are silhouetted against the sky and setting sun.

Payroll vote

The 'payroll vote' is the body of MPs who hold offices that require them to support the government.