Working to make government more effective

Alex Thomas

Programme Director

Alex is a programme director leading the Institute’s work on the civil service and policy making. He heads the team researching civil service reform, government accountability, better policy making and looking at the effectiveness of government departments. Alex is a regular commentator on radio, television and in the print media.

Alex joined the IfG in January 2020, having previously been a director in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), leading teams working on Brexit and animal and plant health. Before that, Alex was principal private secretary to Sir Jeremy Heywood, cabinet secretary and head of the civil service.

Alex worked in the Department of Health from 2015–16, the Cabinet Office on constitutional and electoral matters from 2010–15, and in Defra from 2003–10 on a variety of environment, climate change and agricultural policies.

20 JUN 2024 Comment

What made Michael Gove one of the most consequential ministers of recent times?

The next government should pay close attention to Michael Gove's approach to government.

14 JUN 2024 Comment

How Angela Rayner operates as deputy prime minister is a core question for Labour

Keir Starmer needs to decide what kind of deputy prime minister he might need in government.

09 MAY 2024 Comment

The parties should focus on substance as well as sales ahead of the election

Election fever is hotting up in the aftermath of the local elections.

15 MAY 2020 Comment

Michael Gove’s new non-executive directors should not become quasi-special advisers

Non-executive directors shouldn’t act as additional ministers or special advisers

12 MAY 2020 Explainer

Joint Biosecurity Centre

The government has announced the creation of a Joint Biosecurity Centre to bring together expertise and analysis to inform decisions on Covid-19.

24 MAR 2020 Comment

The coronavirus crisis shows that government needs the capacity to deal with tough times

After the coronavirus crisis it is likely that the public will want greater investment in public services and a more resilient emergency response

03 MAR 2020 Comment

The Patel v Rutnam clash shows the limits of the cabinet secretary’s power

The explosion in the Home Office shows the constraints on the management of the top civil service team

01 MAR 2020 Comment

The consequences of Philip Rutnam’s dramatic resignation from the Home Office

Philip Rutnam's resignation and the mess that follows and its aftermath will have consequences for the Home Office and the government’s wider agenda

21 FEB 2020 Comment

Ministers and senior civil servants should respect each other – and the rule of law

Reports that the Home Office is “at war” and that the home secretary is trying to remove her permanent secretary are damaging for the government

13 FEB 2020 Comment

The reshuffle demonstrates the PM’s power – but does not mean the end of the Treasury

While Sajid Javid’s departure will make things easier for No.10 in the short term, his former department cannot be side-lined for long

12 FEB 2020 Comment

The reshuffle will show whether the government is serious about shaking up the civil service

If the government is serious about reforming the civil service and making changes stick, then it must prioritise and prepare for the long haul

28 JAN 2020 Comment

A decade of reform has left the government better equipped to take the Huawei decision

The creation of the National Security Council has helped the government to deal with sensitive judgement calls like Huawei

28 JAN 2020 Comment

The Dominic Cummings agenda requires forensic scrutiny from a crucial parliamentary committee

The next chair of PACAC must bring his colleagues together around a programme of sustained and forensic scrutiny of the government