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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.

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22 MAY 2026 Explainer
Housing development in Essex, one of the areas on the Devolution Priority Programme

The Devolution Priority Programme (DPP)

Six areas in England have been selected for the Devolution Priority Programme, putting them on a ‘fast-track’ to mayoral devolution and LGR.

22 MAY 2026 Explainer
The inside of Manchester town hall.

What is local government reorganisation?

Unitarisation is a type of local government reorganisation that replaces separate county and district councils with a single tier of local authorities

19 MAY 2026 Explainer
Oil rig North Sea

Jackdaw and Rosebank

What are Jackdaw and Rosebank, and what position has the government taken on North Sea licences?

15 MAY 2026 Explainer
The Cabinet Office in Whitehall, London

Cabinet manual 

The cabinet manual is a document which sets out rules and procedures for the operation of government. 

13 MAY 2026 Explainer
Armed forces

Cabinet committees

Cabinet committees are groups of ministers that can “take collective decisions that are binding across government."

13 MAY 2026 Explainer
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the state opening of parliament.

King's Speech

The King's Speech is part of the State Opening of Parliament, the formal beginning of each new session of parliament.