Ministers
We examine the role that ministers play in the UK government and how they can be most effective.
What is it like being a minister?
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Government ministers
This explainer sets out what are the different types of ministers, how they are appointed and what they do.

Managing as a minister
This guest paper by the University of Southampton reveals patterns in ministerial leadership styles.

The Challenge of Being a Minister
Our report examines what makes a minister effective in being able to define and take forward his or her policy objectives.
Strengthening private office
Strengthening civil service support for ministers is essential to reset the strained relationship between Whitehall and government – and this should begin with reform of ministers' private offices.
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Latest Ministers Reflect interviews

Sir Brandon Lewis
Sir Brandon Lewis discusses the benefit of local government experience, the challenges of the Home Office and his time as Northern Ireland secretary.

Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith talks about serving as constitution minister under three different PMs, her time in the Truss government, and ministerial maternity cover.

Sir Robert Buckland
Robert Buckland discusses Brexit’s impact on the law officer role, the end of the Truss government, and managing the courts system in Covid.

Lord Bethell
Lord Bethell discusses being in DHSC during Covid, the importance of experts in government and 'hating' leaving office

Matt Warman
Matt Warman discusses being an expert minister, how to navigate ‘caretaker’ government and receiving an apology for being sacked by Boris Johnson.
Getting things done in government
Twelve key lessons from former ministers on how to be effective in government.
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The cabinet

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

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

Collective responsibility
Collective responsibility is the convention whereby individual members of the government are accountable for the actions and decisions of government.
What support do ministers get?

Becoming prime minister
Conservative MPs who want to become Prime Minister must face the practical challenges of being head of government.

Ministers’ private offices
Every government minister has a private office. This is a small team of civil servants dedicated to supporting ministerial duties and decisions.
Our ministers team

Tim Durrant
Programme Director
Reshuffles will always primarily be about politics

Catherine Haddon
Programme Director
The UK can ill-afford a year of drift in government

Alice Lilly
Senior Researcher
How to approach insourcing and outsourcing

Grant Dalton
Former Researcher
Five takeaways from Rishi Sunak’s August 2023 ‘mini-reshuffle’

Nicola Blacklaws
IfG Academy Researcher and Recruitment Manager