Research and analysis
We examine the questions that matter most for effective government.
Explore our research and analysis
Managing the UK's relationship with the EU
The government needs to work out how it will organise itself to manage its relationship with its largest trading partner.
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
Government spending: how does parliament approve it?
The government lays out its principal financial plans for the year in the budget.
The article 16 vaccine row is over – but the damage has been done
Both the EU and the UK must learn from the EU’s blunder over article 16 if they want the Northern Ireland protocol to survive long-term
EU vaccine debate highlights UK success – and need for diplomacy
The UK’s vaccine rollout shows the government has learned from earlier mistakes in the crisis
Hotel quarantine
Hotel quarantine for new arrivals has been introduced to “reduce the risk of a new strain of the virus entering the UK”.
The UK’s coronavirus quarantine policy risks being the worst of both worlds
Restricting quarantine to a few high-risk countries won’t stop new variants entering the country and will still be costly and disruptive
Boris Johnson needs answers for the challenges he faces in each part of the UK
Jess Sargeant sets the scene for a year which may well be the UK government’s last chance to hold together the four nations of the United Kingdom
Coronavirus: no going back to normal
Life after coronavirus will not feel like life before.