Responding to shocks: 10 lessons for government

As the UK hits the anniversary of the first national lockdown, this report sets out 10 lessons that government should learn from its handling of the Covid crisis. These include overhauling decision-making structures at the heart of government, fundamentally redrawing relations between central and local government, and strengthening the National Risk Register.

The report draws from interviews with public servants and politicians with recent experience of working in governments put under huge pressure by the Covid pandemic and the fallout of the EU referendum. Looking at how well the government anticipates shocks, organises itself to responds to crises, and then is held accountable for the decisions it takes, it exposes the strengths and weaknesses of government in the UK when placed under strain.