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.
Is the UK on course to deliver a successful COP?
Jill Rutter says there are reasons for optimism – but still a lot of work to be done to make COP26 a success
The government must bring an end to the UK subsidy control system limbo
The government needs to address immediately the post-Brexit legal uncertainty around subsidy control
Don’t believe the rhetoric – this is a supremely industrial-strategy minded government
Giles Wilkes looks beyond a shift in Treasury rhetoric and says this government is still one with an industrial strategy-led agenda at its heart
Investigating the Home Office’s criminal records blunder can improve government accountability
The Home Office’s deletion of important criminal records should not have happened
Ministerial maternity leave bill highlights need to bring politicians’ rights into 21st century
This piecemeal change to ministerial maternity leave highlights the need for a comprehensive review of the employment rights of politicians
The UK government needs to decide how to manage its post-Brexit relationship with the EU
The vaccines/article 16 debacle showed the fragility of the post-Brexit UK-EU relationship
Leaked NHS reforms would take us back to the wrong sort of future
The leaked draft of the government’s NHS reform white paper sets out a weak case for returning ‘command and control’ over to ministers
The government must bring an end to its risky Covid crisis procurement
Thomas Pope says the government needs to return to normal competitive processes that offer the best value for money
The increase in ministerial directions should not become a habit
2020 saw the highest number ever of ministerial directions. This may be understandable in a crisis, but should not become a habit for the government.
The Treasury’s attempt to repair Eat Out to Help Out's reputation is dubious
Rather than focussing on brand management, the Treasury should learn from what it got wrong about the virus, argues Tom Sasse