Alex Thomas
Programme Director
Alex's recent work
Liz Truss blaming the deep state is an excuse for failure
Liz Truss's deep state delusions are undermining any serious argument she might make.
The PCS challenge on arms sales to Israel shows the strengths and limits of civil service unions
Civil service unions have a particular responsibility to show restraint on political activity.
Declining fast stream applications are a warning sign for the civil service
The fast stream is one of the UK’s best graduate schemes.
All work
Whitehall Monitor 2023 (Part 3): Civil service effectiveness
This part of Whitehall Monitor 2023 assesses the extent to which the civil service was effective at undertaking its key responsibilities in 2022.
Whitehall Monitor 2023 (Part 2): Government reform
This part of Whitehall Monitor 2023 analyses efforts to reform government, and the civil service in particular, last year.
Whitehall Monitor 2023 (Part 1): The size, cost and make-up of the civil service
This part of Whitehall Monitor 2023 analyses the ways in which the civil service changed in 2022 and what these changes mean for its priorities.
Zahawi and Johnson rows severely test Sunak's integrity drive
The prime minister is running out of time to show that he meant what he said about cleaning up government.
Five things we’ve learned about the Brown Commission on the UK’s future
A team of IfG experts weigh up the key recommendations set out in the Gordon Brown's Commission on the UK's Future report.
Opening up: how to strengthen the civil service through external recruitment
The civil service’s ability to deliver ministers’ priorities is being hurt by its failure to attract and properly use the skills of external recruits.
Rishi Sunak needs to sort out his government’s ministerial behaviour problem
A succession of unresolved allegations about poor ministerial behaviour shows that Rishi Sunak needs to sort things out.
The Dominic Raab claims expose the trust breakdown in government
Escalating leaks are a disaster for the vital trust between ministers and civil servants.
What Rishi Sunak’s cabinet committees reveal about how he will govern
Sunak’s cabinet committees reflect a preference for small strategy meetings and the power of Jeremy Hunt, but they also show a severe lack of women.
Cutting the civil service
Six steps to cut the civil service with care