The current government has close ties to Australia, with Australian campaign strategists such as Sir Lynton Crosby and Isaac Levido both having led successful election campaigns for the Conservatives in recent years, and the new trade deal between the UK and Australia agreed in principle in June 2021.British politicians also like to point to Australia as an example of policy models to follow – from an ‘Australian-style’ immigration system to the prospect of an ‘Australian-style’ deal with the European Union.This event brought together an expert panel to discuss why Australia has so captured the government’s imagination, what the UK is learning from Australia, whether the ‘Australia-style’ label glosses over important differences between the UK and Australia, and also whether there are any Australian policy successes that aren’t yet part of the political debate in the UK.Our panel: James Starkie, Founding Partner at 5654 & Company and former Chief of Staff to Priti Patel Marc Stears, Director of the Sydney Policy Lab and former Chief Speechwriter to the Labour Party Laura Tingle, Journalist and Chief Political Correspondent at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation John McTernan, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former Director of Political Operations for Tony Blair and for Director of Communications for Julia Gillard The was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.#IfGAusWe are grateful to Nous for their support with this event See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The G7 in Cornwall was a big opportunity for Boris Johnson to set out his vision for Global Britain. On the agenda was famine prevention, girls’ education, tackling climate change and, of course, recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. But the summit also took place against the backdrop of criticism, at home and abroad, of the government’s decision to cut the UK’s foreign aid budget.To assess how much the summit achieved and to discuss what needs to happen next for the UK to reach its global ambitions and priorities, and how it can be a force for global good, the Institute for Government was delighted to bring together the following expert panel: Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross The Rt Hon Baroness Amos, Master of University College, Oxford and former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and former Secretary of State for International Development Tobias Ellwood MP, Chair of the Defence Select Committee Laila Johnson-Salami, Journalist at Arise TV and Founding Member of Feminist Coalition The event was be chaired by Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.#IfGG7We would like to thank British Red Cross for kindly supporting this event. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Announcing the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the prime minister declared that “we have taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation”. Regaining regulatory autonomy was a key UK objective in the negotiations. The question now is what the government wants to do with it.There is no shortage of ideas about how the government could regulate differently outside the EU. The taskforce set up by the prime minister to identify post-Brexit opportunities has made much of the ability to change regulation to better reflect the needs of the UK economy and promote innovation, and recommended reform in areas like financial services and life sciences. The government is now launching a search to find a director for its Brexit Opportunities Unit to "develop a cross-government strategy for regulatory change, while driving policy development on new opportunities across Whitehall."As our recent report, Taking back control of regulation, shows, doing things differently from the EU presents opportunities, but also brings potential costs and risks.To discuss how the government should think about regulation after Brexit, we brought together a panel representing a range of views: Bernardine Adkins, Partner, Head of EU, Trade and Competition at Gowling WLG John Foster, Interim Director of Policy and Communications at the Confederation of British Industry Joe Marshall, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Iain Martin, Columnist for The Times The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.#IfGBrexitWe are grateful to Gowling WLG for their support with this event See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On his final day as Chief Economist at the Bank of England, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Andy Haldane.After seven years in this position, and as a member of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee, he discussed with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the IfG, his more than 30 years at the Bank of England and reflect on some of the big economic events he has witnessed during that time and the lessons he draws from those experiences.Read Andy Haldane's speech: Thirty years of hurt, never stopped me dreaming#IfGEconomy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The prime minister says a "green recovery” will be at the heart of the UK's post-pandemic comeback. But his government has so far set out less ambitious measures than some other countries and it cancelled its flagship scheme, the Green Homes Grant, after six months due to low take up.With the UK hosting the COP26 climate conference in November, this panel discussed what combination of policies, public and private investment and skills programmes will be needed to turn the government's vision of a green recovery into reality.On our panel were: Josh Buckland, Director at Flint Global and former Energy Adviser to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Sam Fankhauser, Professor of Climate Change Economics and Policy at the University of Oxford Rosa Hodgkin, Researcher at the Institute for Government Bridget Rosewell, Commissioner for the National Infrastructure Commission Catherine McGuinness, Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee at the City of London Corporation, made the opening remarks.The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.#IfGnetzeroWe would like to thank the City of London Corporation for kindly supporting this event. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The vote to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016 marked the start of a tumultuous period in British politics. The government was set on a collision course with parliament over what Brexit really meant. The civil service began to untangle 43 years of EU membership, building up new capabilities and preparing for new responsibilities. And the Brexit effect placed the United Kingdom under huge strain – with growing support for independence in Scotland and a new border in the Irish Sea.What impact has the referendum had on the governance of the UK? Has control really returned to parliament, or to the government? And what does Brexit mean for the future of the union?To mark five years since the end of the referendum, the Institute for Government brought together people who were either involved in, or had front-row seats to, this remarkable period in British politics.On the panel were: Katy Balls, Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator Luke Graham, former MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, 2017-19, and former head of the Union Unit in No.10 Lord McDonald of Salford, former Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2015-20 Lisa O’Carroll, Brexit Correspondent at The Guardian The event was chaired by Maddy Thimont Jack, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.#IfGBrexit See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join the Institute for Government Brexit team for a canter through the five years since the Referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU took place. Who was a better negotiator, Theresa May or Boris Johnson? Was the Civil Service ready for the task of delivering Brexit? Has Parliament recovered from all the rebellions and procedural high-jinks? And what will Brexit really mean for the future of the United Kingdom? Join the IfG’s Jill Rutter, Maddy Thimont-Jack, Jess Sargeant and Joe Marshall – along with some intriguing predictions from the IfG audio archives – to get the Brexit podcast done. Presented by Sam Macrory Audio Production by Candice McKenzie See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since the 2019 General Election, “levelling up” has been the Government’s go-to slogan. The Queen’s Speech set out an ambition to “level up opportunities across all parts of the UK”, the Chancellor unveiled a levelling up fund, the PM appointed a levelling up adviser, and the promise to level up featured heavily during the recent Hartlepool by-election. But what does levelling up actually mean? How does the Government intend to turn this slogan into reality? How can voters judge the success – or not – of the levelling up agenda at the next election?The Institute for Government is delighted to bring together an expert panel to discuss past efforts at distributing investment, creating job opportunities and increasing productivity, and to assess whether Boris Johnson’s levelling up agenda will see the Conservatives hold on to electoral gains in the so-called Red Wall constituencies.On the panel are: John Godfrey, Corporate Affairs Director at Legal & General and former Head of Policy at No.10 (2016–17) Lord Mandelson, Chairman of Global Counsel and former European Commissioner for Trade and MP for Hartlepool (1992–2004) Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former Special Adviser to Theresa May Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First and former Education and Innovation Adviser to David Cameron The event is chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.#IfGlevellingupWe would like to thank Legal & General for kindly supporting this event. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the economy recovers from the pandemic, the government wants to ‘build back better’ and ‘level up’. Improving public health could play an important role in achieving these objectives. We are a less healthy nation than many of our European neighbours, and there are huge differences in health between more and less prosperous parts of the UK. This affects quality of life as well as how productively people can work.How can public health policy form a part of the levelling up agenda? What is the appropriate role for government and businesses in promoting good public health? What interventions would make a difference and what incentives would help people to get healthier?To discuss these questions and more, we are delighted to bring together an expert panel featuring: Jo Bibby, Director of Health at the Health Foundation Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Professor of Epidemiology at University College London, Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity and Past President of the World Medical Association Nigel Wilson, Group Chief Executive at Legal & General Tina Woods, Founder and CEO of Collider Health and CEO and co-founder of Longevity International The event is chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, with an introduction by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.#IfGlevellingup See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Institute for Government is delighted to bring together two of the UK’s most experienced former diplomats for a discussion on the future of Global Britain. Lord Ricketts has held the posts of permanent secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, National Security Adviser and UK Ambassador to France. Sir Peter Westmacott’s distinguished career has included stints as the UK’s Ambassador to the United States, France and Turkey. They discuss Britain’s foreign policy priorities and how they can be achieved, the many international challenges and dilemmas facing the UK, and what Global Britain really means – plus their newly published books: Hard Choices: What Britain Does Next by Peter Ricketts and They Call It Diplomacy: Forty Years Of Representing Britain Abroad by Peter Westmacott.Peter Ricketts and Peter Westmacott are in conversation with the IfG's Director, Bronwen Maddox.#IfGGlobalBritain See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices