Research and analysis
We examine the questions that matter most for effective government.
Explore our research and analysis
How could Ofsted and the Department for Education reform school inspections in England?
The new chief inspector will need better support from ministers to reform Ofsted.
A message to Jeremy Hunt: calling off the budget would be good for government
Two fiscal events are tempting for chancellors but bad for government.
David Cameron appointment shows the benefits – and downsides – of reviving ministerial careers
The government and parliament still need to find a way to fill the accountability gap.
The IfG review of 2023: Posturing and panicking, poison and paranoia
David Runciman, the former host of the Talking Politics podcast, joins the IfG team to look back on the last 12 months.
The local government finance settlement is unlikely to end council ‘bankruptcies’
Both the government and the Labour opposition should be prepared to explain how they plan to address crumbling local authority finances.
The Expert Factor: 2023 year in review
The Expert Factor team take a deep dive into the last 365 days after 12 months packed with political drama and intrigue.
Proposing change: How same-sex marriage became a government success story
Passing legislation to introduce same-sex marriage marked an important step in addressing the UK’s past legal discrimination against same-sex couples.
Good news on government transparency to end the year
The year ended with some welcome progress on transparency in government, but momentum must be maintained in the year ahead.
The Liaison Committee
What roles does the Liaison Committee play in holding the prime minister to account?
What have we learned from the Covid inquiry?
The Expert Factor team takes stock of progress in the Covid inquiry and whether the questions being asked are helping to explain Johnson's No.10.