![Dr Catherine Haddon](/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_full_width_desktop/public/2022-12/cath-haddon-326x326.jpg?itok=z4FFAIMy)
Catherine Haddon
Programme Director
Cath's recent work
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Winning a general election: what does a new prime minister’s first 72 hours look like?
The first 72 hours as a new prime minister provides an early lesson in how huge the job is and how extensive the demands on their time will be.
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What happens if a prime minister loses their seat in a general election?
At every general election there is a possibility that a party's leader would not be returned to parliament.
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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.
All work
Hung parliaments
A hung parliament occurs when no party holds a majority of seats in the House of Commons.
Appointment of prime ministers and the role of the King
Prime ministers are appointed based on their ability to command confidence in the House of Commons.
King's Speech
The King's Speech is part of the State Opening of Parliament, the formal beginning of each new session of Parliament.
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act has confused what it means for governments to command confidence
Legislation designed to provide stability is now contributing to confusion about how the Commons determines when it has confidence in a government.
The Brexit battle is fundamentally changing the constitution
The incredible strain which Brexit has placed on the constitution is causing lasting damage.
A general election campaign causes big problems for no deal preparation – and the civil service
The principle of a caretaker government would reduce government’s ability to prepare for a no deal Brexit.
Becoming secretary of state
MPs with ambitions of being put in charge of a department must prepare, plan and set priorities now if they want to make an impact.
Tracey Crouch
Tracey Crouch was interviewed on 10 July 2019 for the Institute for Government’s Ministers Reflect project.
Becoming prime minister
All new prime ministers face huge practical challenges of being head of government.
Jo Johnson
Jo Johnson reflects on his time as a minister under David Cameron and Theresa May.