Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

Camden Council leader Sagal Abdi-Wali (right) and Green Party leader Zack Polanski (far left) during the declaration during the Holborn and St Pancras by-election following the count at the headquarters of Camden Council at 5 Pancras Square in Camden, north London. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former prime minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Picture date: Friday October 9, 2026.
Podcast

Can Zack fight back?

Deltapoll's Joe Twyman joins the pod team to explore what the PM’s by-election double really tells us about his electoral prospects.

Another by-election, another win for Andy Burnham – with the Greens defeated in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Deltapoll's Joe Twyman joins the pod team to explore what the PM’s by-election double really tells us about his electoral prospects.

It was another bad day for Green leader Zack Polanski, who was already under pressure after a difficult conference in Brighton.

Kemi Badenoch, on the other, was all smiles in Birmingham – but does the Conservative Party really have grounds for optimism?

Plus: How well are schools performing? A new IfG report has the answer.

 

What we talked about on this episode

People featured on this episode

Topic
Parliament and the constitution Public finances Public services
Keywords
Schools Education and skills Public spending Political parties Tax
Publisher
Institute for Government

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