Michael Gove has unveiled a grandly-titled document called the “Declaration of Government Reform”. So what’s it all about? There’s a plan to move more than 20,000 civil servants out of London, but also plenty of detail on civil servants’ pay, performance, and accountability. Will the reforms make a difference? We’ve pressed the emergency podcast alarm, and dialled up guest Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, to work out what it all means, and whether any of it will work.With Alex Thomas, Cath Haddon, and Tim Durrant. 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

Boris Johnson has announced that a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic will start next year. Following the publication of our paper, which set out the case for an inquiry and how it should be run, this Institute for Government event discussed how the inquiry can succeed.How can the inquiry ensure important issues aren't missed and findings are delivered in a reasonable time? What is the role of parliament and the public in shaping the purpose of the inquiry and ensuring that the government follows up on its findings? Who should lead the inquiry and what type of person should sit on its panel?Discussing these questions were: Sir Lawrence Freedman, Professor of War Studies at King’s College London and committee member for the Chilcot Inquiry Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund Sir Bernard Jenkin, Chair of the House of Commons Liaison Committee Layla Moran, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus  The event was chaired by Marcus Shepheard, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.#IfGCovidinquiry See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The legacy of Richard, Viscount Haldane can be seen across modern Britain. But why has modern Britain forgotten the many and wide-ranging accomplishments of this philosopher-statesman?The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Campbell, author of Haldane: The Forgotten Statesman Who Shaped Modern Britain, and Sir Anthony Seldon, historian and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, to discuss his life and legacy.Richard Haldane created the Territorial Army and the British Expeditionary Force and was a key player in the formation of MI5, MI6, and the RAF. In academia, he played a big part in founding and developing the LSE, Imperial College, the ‘redbrick’ universities, and the Medical Research Council. His work in science and research with the University Grants Committee was catalytic in British university life, and his name is still frequently invoked in the "Haldane principle" – that the aims of research should be separate from government direction – although the principle and indeed the attribution to him are still hotly debated. A formidable lawyer and philosopher, who rose to be Lord Chancellor, he was the first incumbent of that office to advocate an independent Supreme Court.In a conversation chaired by Bronwen Maddox, the Director of the Institute for Government, John Campbell and Sir Anthony Seldon discussed Haldane's influence on the past and present. John Campbell, who describes himself as a lifelong admirer of Haldane, is also co-founder and chair of Campbell Lutyens, an international private equity and infrastructure advisory house.#IfGHaldaneprinciple See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The future of EU citizens living in the UK was one of the big sticking points of the Brexit talks. In the 2019 Withdrawal Agreement, the UK agreed to establish an Independent Monitoring Authority to oversee the protections of the rights of EU citizens living in the UK before the end of the transition period.What are the IMA’s priorities? What are its concerns? What progress has been made and what are the key challenges ahead?Five months after the IMA’s launch, and with the 30 June deadline for EU citizens to register for settled, or pre-settled, status fast approaching, the IfG was pleased to welcome the new IMA chair and members of its senior team for a wide-ranging discussion on the IMA’s vital role.Our panel Sir Ashley Fox, Chair of the Independent Monitoring Authority Kate Chamberlain, Chief Executive of the Independent Monitoring Authority Pam Everett, Director of Operational Delivery at the Independent Monitoring Authority Rhys Davies, General Counsel at the Independent Monitoring Authority  The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow 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

Crucial elections took place across the UK on 6 May. The result in Scotland could have huge consequences for the UK's future. The election in Wales is the most unpredictable since devolution. And across England, voters have elected the mayors of London and other English cities, 39 police and crime commissioners and several thousand councillors. The impact on the national political debate could be significant.To make sense of the results and analyse what they mean, the Institute for Government held a special post-election expert discussion.What will the votes mean for the major parties? How will the result in Scotland affect the independence question? What comes next in the devolution debate? And what will the mayors of the big English cities do with their powers?Our panel: Kieran Andrews, Scottish Political Editor at The Times Professor Laura McAllister, Professor of Public Policy at the Wales Governance Centre, University of Cardiff Professor Tony Travers, Professor in Practice in the Department of Government, London School of Economics Jess Sargeant, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Akash Paun, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.#IfGDevo See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome the three newly appointed leaders of data, digital and technology in government. Paul Willmott, Chair of the Central Digital and Data Office, Joanna Davinson, Executive Director of the Central Digital and Data Office, and Tom Read, Chief Executive Officer of the Government Digital Service, was in conversation with Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.The Central Data and Digital Office was established earlier this year, and its work will complement that of the Government Digital Service, which is approaching its tenth anniversary. The event explored Paul, Joanna and Tom’s visions for the next phase of digital delivery and transformation in government, and their respective priorities for the coming year.#IfGdigitalThe Institute for Government would like to thank Oracle 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 coronavirus crisis has seen many organisations from many sectors work together in their responses. These include government departments, local authorities, NHS trusts, police forces, charities and community groups. But while there are many examples of successful collaboration and coordination, it has varied substantially in different parts of the country, and across and between national and local government.So what lessons can be learnt for future crises? Have some parts of national or local government responses worked more effectively than others? What is the cost of not getting this right? And what are the appropriate roles and responsibilities for different organisations in a crisis?Our panel to discuss these issues were: Mike Adamson, CEO of the British Red Cross Saffron Cordery, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Providers Jacqui Smith, Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham and former Home Secretary Robin Tuddenham, CEO of Calderdale Council and Co-Chair of West Yorkshire Prepared The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.#IfGcrisesThe Institute for Government would like to thank the 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

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Ambassador João Vale de Almeida, the EU Ambassador to the UK.The start of the post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU has been marked by tensions over vaccine distribution and the Northern Ireland protocol. But these are also issues where close co-operation is needed. How should the UK and the EU work together to implement the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol? What are the other areas of shared interest ahead of the G7 summit and United Nations climate conference? What can be done to improve relations between the EU and the UK post-Brexit?To discuss these questions and more, João Vale de Almeida was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.João Vale de Almeida previously served as the EU Ambassador to the United Nations 2015-19 and the EU Ambassador to the US 2010-14.#IfGBrexit See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From court hearings to GP appointments, education to social care, the coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on the way public services are delivered. Years of innovation have taken place in a matter of months, with many of the most successful changes developed locally and by frontline staff.So what can central government do to embed, support and successfully scale up these new approaches in public services delivery? What tools does Whitehall need to facilitate transformational change across the public sector and how can the public sector collaborate with other sectors to achieve a shared goal? What role can recent changes play in the recovery from the pandemic? And what lessons can be learnt from the way changes have been introduced in response to the pandemic?On our panel to discuss these issues were: Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of NHS Confederation Dr Henry Kippin, Director of Economic Growth at North of Tyne Combined Authority Kirsty McNeill, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children Chris Clements, Director at Social Finance The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.#IfGpublicservicesWe would like to thank Social Finance 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 arrival of Covid-19 forced parliament to innovate rapidly and experiment with new ways of working. These had a dramatic impact on the way MPs and peers did their jobs – with implications for the effectiveness and inclusivity of our legislature. What innovations should be kept, what should be dropped and who should decide?This event brought together an expert panel to discuss these important questions. Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford Matthew Hamlyn, Strategic Director, Chamber Business Team at House of Commons Philip Norton (Lord Norton of Louth), Professor of Government at the University of Hull and President of the Study of Parliament Group The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.#IfGParliament See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices