Incisive commentary from the IfG’s expert team on issues facing government and key ministerial decisions.
From analysis of key political events such as budgets and party conferences to snap responses to unexpected developments such as government reshuffles, our writers set out their views and analyse what government gets right, what it gets wrong, and what it can do better.
Australia and Canada highlight the dangers of politicising the civil service
Those looking to other countries for warning signs of politicising the UK civil service should pay attention to Canada and Australia
Five things to look out for in Rishi Sunak’s summer economic update
Will the chancellor’s ‘summer economic update’ be a gamechanger?
The UK needs to explore compromises on state aid
State aid proposals being floated amid ongoing UK–EU future-relationship negotiations are a step in the right direction
Britain, Brexit and Hong Kong: the problems of UK nationality law
Brexit, and the situation in Hong Kong, offer a golden opportunity to clear up UK nationality law
A reminder that political crises carry high stakes in Northern Ireland
The recent row between Northern Ireland’s main political parties has laid bare the unique challenges of the executive’s governance arrangements
The dangers of No.10’s attempt to take back control of government communications
The interesting move is less the daily press conference than managing government communications from the Cabinet Office
The manner of Mark Sedwill’s exit shows how easy it is to undermine civil service impartiality
Protecting the impartiality of the civil service is a test for all politicians
The prime minister’s speech fell short of signalling a post-coronavirus “green recovery”
Boris Johnson has promised to “build back greener”, but his speech offered little detail
The UK’s Brexit preparations must now begin in earnest
With exactly six months left of the transition period, getting a distracted UK ready for Brexit by December will be difficult
Boris Johnson’s 'New Deal for Britain' speech: four key questions
Though billed as the prime minister’s big speech on the economy, today’s announcements failed to answer some key questions