Working to make government more effective

Tim Durrant

Programme Director

Tim is a programme director at the Institute, leading the ministers team. His work focuses on the role of ministers and how they can be most effective during their time in office. Tim also works as part of the IfG Academy team, delivering workshops and other development sessions for ministers, their private offices and other civil servants. He is also a CAPE fellow in 2022/23.

Tim has a BA in Middle Eastern Studies. He began his career working on Middle Eastern issues at the Department for International Development before moving to HM Treasury, where he worked on energy and climate policy and Europe. Following the 2016 referendum he began working on Brexit policy, and in 2017 moved to the Institute to join the Brexit team.

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.

30 APR 2024 Comment

Andrew Mitchell’s new job title doesn’t resolve how to best scrutinise Lords ministers like David Cameron

Current arrangements to scrutinise ministers in the House of Lords may not be sustainable.

18 APR 2024 Comment

Departures of MPs and ministers add to the sense of drift in Sunak’s government

MPs standing down make achieving anything significant in this parliament difficult.

29 JUN 2023 Comment

Eric Pickles is right: the rules for post-government jobs do not work

Lord Pickles has written to the government to criticise the rules that ACOBA is responsible for overseeing.

07 JUN 2023 Interview

Lord Bethell

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

05 JUN 2023 Interview

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.

25 MAY 2023 Comment

Ministers deserve better support from their private offices

Too often ministers are not getting the support they need from their private offices, say Beatrice Barr and Tim Durrant

22 MAY 2023 Comment

The Suella Braverman speeding ticket row risks becoming another Westminster distraction

Another week focusing on a possible ministerial resignation would be a distraction from the real issues.

10 MAY 2023 Interview

Hilary Benn

Hilary Benn talks about international development and moving into opposition.

10 MAY 2023 Insight paper

Getting things done in government

Key lessons from former ministers on how to be effective in government.

10 MAY 2023 Interview

George Eustice

George Eustice reflects on his time in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

01 MAR 2023 Comment

Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp leaks should be a wake-up call for government

Matt Hancock’s messages reveal just how embedded WhatsApp is in the functioning of government.

07 FEB 2023 Live-blog

Rishi Sunak's reshuffle – February 2023

The PM has restructured several departments, and appointed new ministers to head them. The IfG reshuffle team tracked all the changes on the day.