Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

George Eustice, environment secretary, arriving at 10 Downing Street for a cabinet meeting.
Podcast

Becoming a minister: Part 1 – The first day 

Former ministers George Eustice, Jim Murphy, Andrea Leadsom and Estelle Morris tell us what happens on the first day in post.

On this first episode in our six-part series, we look at ministers’ first days in the job. No minister forgets the phone call from No.10, when they are offered their first job in government. After they hang up, the job starts immediately – and quickly takes over everything else in their lives.  

We’ve spoken to four former ministers about that first conversation and those first steps into the department. We hear what the prime minister asked them, how they reacted and what they said to their civil servants on day one. And we find out what MPs are really doing while reshuffles are going on – including which former minister had to take a call from Downing Street in a public toilet...

For more information on how the IfG can support new ministers, check out the IfG Academy or get in touch with us via ifgacademy@instituteforgovernment.org.uk.

What we talked about in this episode

26 JUN 2020 Report

Becoming a Lords minister

The way that Lords ministers approach the role, and the support they are given to undertake it, can be very different from their Commons counterparts.

Who we talked to in this episode

10 MAY 2023 Interview

George Eustice

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

29 OCT 2020 Interview

Andrea Leadsom

Andrea Leadsom reflects on working to deliver Brexit in different departments, reforms to the House of Commons and learning about energy on the job.

17 NOV 2021 Interview

Estelle Morris

Baroness Morris talks about her six years in DfE, including her perspective as a former teacher and the shift to a targets-orientated culture.

07 OCT 2022 Interview

Jim Murphy

Jim Murphy reflects on his time as secretary of state for Scotland and as a junior minister

People featured in this episode

Topic
Ministers
Keywords
Cabinet Government reshuffle General election Civil servants
Political party
Conservative Labour
Position
Secretary of state Leader of the House of Commons
Administration
Blair government Brown government Cameron government Cameron-Clegg coalition government May government Johnson government
Department
Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for Education Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
Series
IfG Academy Ministers Reflect
Legislature
House of Commons
Publisher
Institute for Government

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