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
The five steps Rishi Sunak should take after becoming prime minister
The steps Rishi Sunak should take to hit the ground running as prime minister.
Five headaches that await the new prime minister
The IfG team picks out the five headaches which await the next PM
Government policies, not a new Treasury permanent secretary, will determine market confidence
It is policy and not personnel that matter for the markets
What the Queen’s reign teaches the civil service
The way the Queen did her duty has lessons for the civil service
Why the next prime minister must fix how government works
The first battle is to persuade leaders that government reform is needed
After Boris Johnson: what now for the civil service?
With the Johnson era coming to a close the civil service’s leaders need to find their voices, assert how best to run the institution, set a clear purp
Simon Case must show he can lead the civil service out of its partygate problems
If the cabinet secretary is to remain in post, he needs to demonstrate he grasps the extent of the civil service problems exposed by Sue Gray
Anything to declare?
The government’s civil service reform programme requires increased momentum, clearer plans and renewed attention from senior figures.
Reforming No10 should be about more than Boris Johnson’s partygate response
Tinkering with the centre of government is too important to be a rapid response to the partygate scandal
Better policy making
How government – both ministers and officials – could change to make policy better.