Report

Ministerial leadership during crises

How ministers can prepare for a potential crisis and learn lessons in the aftermath.

12 JUN 2025

Sachin Savur Patrick McAlary Tim Durrant

At the height of financial uncertainty in 2007/08, investors and customers queue outside the Maddox Street branch of Northern Rock Bank. — Customers queuing outside the Maddox Street branch of Northern Rock Bank during the height of the financial crisis.

Crises are among the greatest challenges a minister will face while in office. The minister in charge of the response will have to get to grips with a complex and rapidly developing situation, make high-stakes decisions about the government’s response, and communicate these decisions confidently to the public and other key audiences.

But despite the importance of crises in ministerial life, ministers often struggle to find the time to reflect on how they respond to them effectively.

This insight paper sets out the key leadership roles that ministers play during crises. It also looks at how ministers can prepare for a potential crisis and learn lessons in the aftermath.

This paper is part of a package of resources designed to support government ministers and their teams in responding to crises effectively, including a short ‘how-to’ guide and a practical crisis response workshop.

Ministerial leadership during crises

Ensuring an effective response to crises is part of government’s “licence to operate”. We have researched ministers’ role in crisis response and developed resources to help ministers respond effectively to crises.

Find out more