
Alex Thomas
Programme Director
Alex's recent work
All work
A Westminster reshuffle is underway – and Keir Starmer needs to make it work
What do the big changes at the top of the civil service mean for government?
‘Whitehall reform’ needs a more coherent plan to succeed
Piecemeal interventions do not add up to coherent view of how the modern state should work.
Rachel Reeves's civil service cuts must be a spur for reform
How can the government successfully approach civil service savings?
Five things we learned from Keir Starmer’s speech on reforming the state
What did the prime minister reveal about his plan for how government should work?
One year on: a progress report on the IfG’s Commission on the Centre of Government
Which of the IfG's seven recommendations have been enacted by Keir Starmer's government?
Pat McFadden is right: the civil service needs to lose poor performers
It is time to introduce regular civil service compulsory redundancy rounds.
The end of the civil service generalist is welcome
Whitehall is moving away from an outdated concept of the ‘policy generalist’.
Five key takeaways from defence secretary John Healey's IfG speech
What did John Healey's IfG speech tell us about his plans for defence reform?
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are showing how not to go about government reform
Would-be government reformers would be wise to reject the Trump/Musk approach.
Methodology
The methodology underpinning the analysis in Whitehall Monitor 2025.