Working to make government more effective

Alex Thomas

Programme Director

Alex is a programme director leading the Institute’s work on the civil service and policy making. He heads the team researching civil service reform, government accountability, better policy making and looking at the effectiveness of government departments. Alex is a regular commentator on radio, television and in the print media.

Alex joined the IfG in January 2020, having previously been a director in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), leading teams working on Brexit and animal and plant health. Before that, Alex was principal private secretary to Sir Jeremy Heywood, cabinet secretary and head of the civil service.

Alex worked in the Department of Health from 2015–16, the Cabinet Office on constitutional and electoral matters from 2010–15, and in Defra from 2003–10 on a variety of environment, climate change and agricultural policies.

09 MAY 2024 Comment

The parties should focus on substance as well as sales ahead of the election

Election fever is hotting up in the aftermath of the local elections.

16 APR 2024 Comment

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.

15 APR 2024 Comment

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.

11 AUG 2020 Comment

Confusion over local coronavirus lockdowns shows a government failing to learn from mistakes

The government needs to get slicker at imposing local lockdowns

23 JUL 2020 Comment

Civil service reform goes mainstream

To make progress, the government needs to change the incentives for civil servants, welcome scrutiny and be prepared to devolve power.

07 JUL 2020 Explainer

National security adviser

The national security adviser is the central co-ordinator and adviser to the prime minister and cabinet on security, intelligence, defence, and some f

30 JUN 2020 Comment

The coronavirus pandemic is a significant moment for civil service reform

Ministers should support a strong civil service, but there are no quick or easy answers

26 JUN 2020 Explainer

Cabinet secretary

The cabinet secretary is the most senior civil service adviser to the prime minister and cabinet.

16 JUN 2020 Comment

The government’s coronavirus announcements outpace its ability to deliver them

Ministers’ rhetoric will undermine public confidence if they consistently fail to deliver

05 JUN 2020 Comment

The prime minister is right to apply his Brexit management model to coronavirus

The prime minister’s new coronavirus cabinet committees, based directly on the model he used to “get Brexit done”, should help improve government co-o

22 MAY 2020 Comment

Government reaches for the tsars in its coronavirus response

Appointing outsiders is a good addition to a fragmented health system, but it is important that their remit and terms of appointment are clear.

15 MAY 2020 Comment

Michael Gove’s new non-executive directors should not become quasi-special advisers

Non-executive directors shouldn’t act as additional ministers or special advisers

12 MAY 2020 Explainer

Joint Biosecurity Centre

The government has announced the creation of a Joint Biosecurity Centre to bring together expertise and analysis to inform decisions on Covid-19.