IfG Events

Boris Johnson’s latest reset of 10 Downing Street kicked off in dramatic fashion last week with the announcement that four of his senior advisers were quitting – followed by the news that some familiar faces were coming in to save the day.But with a new Chief of Staff, Director of Comms, Head of Policy, and Permanent Secretary, exactly how new is the new-look No.10? Can a change of staff save a Prime Minister? Can a ministerial Chief of Staff avoid competing with the Prime Minister? And how do the trials and tribulations of Johnson’s No10 compare with the experiences of those who worked there before?This special edition dives into the organisation idiosyncrasies of No.10 and the confusing mix of roles that support the PM, and asks whether Johnson’s reset will make a difference.  Catherine Haddon presents, with the IfG’s Alex Thomas and guests Gavin Barwell, formerly Chief of Staff to Theresa May, and Kate Fall, who worked in No.10 as David Cameron’s deputy chief of staff.Audio production by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Institute for Government/Bennett Institute Review of the UK Constitution launch event. From Supreme Court interventions to accusations of ‘dead parliaments’, from the Brexit impact to the pandemic response, a tumultuous period in British politics has put the UK constitution under huge strain and undermined public faith in how the UK is governed.Calls for change have come from all sides. Should the UK’s constitution be codified? Does parliament have enough power to hold the Government to account? Are the courts going too far in diluting government power? Does the role of the House of Lords and the monarchy need rethinking? Is devolution working – and do we need more of it? How do governments deal with the public and can trust be restored?While the last five years have brought the Constitution’s sustainability into question, they have also created a real opportunity to reinvigorate UK democracy, restore trust in the political system and improve the way that government works. But without a clear vision for the future, the UK risks yet more constitutional confusion and conflict.Over the next 18 months, the Institute for Government and the Bennett Institute of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, backed by a distinguished advisory panel, will undertake an impartial, non-partisan review of the constitution before setting out recommendations for change for this and future governments to follow. This event launched this major joint project, exploring how well the UK constitution is working and the problems that now need to be addressed.On the panel to discuss the UK constitution and the problems faced, were: Dr Halima Begum, Chief Executive of the Runnymede Trust The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC, former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; current Member of Parliament for South Swindon Professor Ciaran Martin, former Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre; now Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University Baroness Smith of Basildon, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords This event is chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. Professor Michael Kenny, Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, provided some opening remarks on the review.#IfGBennettInst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The long-awaited government white paper on levelling up is due to be published in early 2022, but the government alone cannot pay for the policies needed to help the UK’s left-behind areas.So what can ministers do to involve the private sector in shaping and delivering the levelling up agenda? What more can be done to unlock greater private sector investment? How can private investment deliver social as well as economic impact? What lessons can be drawn from previous public-private partnerships to deliver major infrastructure improvements?To discuss these questions, the IfG was delighted to host an expert panel including: Kevin Hollinrake MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking and member of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee Stephen Muers, Chief Executive Officer at Big Society Capital Sara Williams, CEO of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce John Wrathmell, Director, Strategy, Research and Economy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.#IfGlevellingupWe would like to thank Big Society Capital for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The government's Subsidy Control Bill sets out how the UK will replace EU state aid rules, but will this deliver a post-Brexit dividend, and how will the UK's system change how subsidies are offered?With the bill having passed through the House of Commons and set to be scrutinised in the House of Lords, this Institute for Government panel explored the opportunities – and risks – of setting up a bespoke post-Brexit state aid regime.While leaving the EU allows the UK's system to focus domestic concerns and government priorities like reaching net zero, a poorly designed system could mean poor regulation of subsidies and creating legal uncertainty.Will the new system provide the additional flexibility, freedom and certainty that the government has promised – or is it a recipe for confusion? And as the legislation is scrutinised in parliament, how can it be improved to ensure it delivers for UK governments, public bodies and businesses?On our panel to discuss these issues were: Peter Foster, Public Policy Editor at the Financial Times George Peretz QC, Barrister at Monckton Chambers Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Rahat Siddique, Economist at the Confederation of British Industry The event began with a short presentation by Thomas Pope, summarising the new system and presenting initial conclusions on its effectiveness.The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.#IfGstateaid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly a year on from the end of the Brexit transition period, Jill Rutter, James Kane, Jess Sargeant and Joe Marshall from the IfG’s Brexit team plus UK in a Changing Europe’s Professor Anand Menon look back at how the UK is adjusting to life outside the EU and what to look out for in the UK-EU relationship in the year ahead. The Northern Ireland Protocol, Anglo-French fishing disputes, the Brexit opportunities agenda and the UK’s post-Brexit trade deals are just some of the items on the festive menu in this special joint podcast between the Institute for Government and the UK in a Changing Europe.Audio Production by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two years ago, Boris Johnson was elected on a promise to ‘get Brexit done’ and ‘level up’ the UK. Then Covid-19 struck and dominated government time, energy and resources. But with the worst of the crisis now passed, and with the UK having left the EU, where will ministers turn their attention in the second half of the parliament – and is the Government well set up to deliver its priorities?Is Brexit really ‘done’? Do the Government’s ‘net zero’ plans add up? Does more need to be done to support the post-pandemic economic recovery? And how will the Government turn its flagship ‘levelling up’ slogan into reality?The Institute for Government welcomes the following expert panel to reveal the inner workings of government – and discuss whether Boris Johnson’s administration is well-placed to deliver its manifesto promises: Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos MORI Stephen Bush, Political Editor at the New Statesman Dan Corry, Chief Executive of New Philanthropy Capital and former Head of the No.10 Policy Unit Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. The event is chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The UK’s two decade-long campaign in Afghanistan ended this summer with the withdrawal of British troops and diplomatic personnel from Kabul. A mission that began with the overthrow of the Taliban ended with the Taliban returning to power.What did the UK’s 20-year stay in Afghanistan accomplish? Should politicians or the military take the blame for its failures? And how should Afghans and the international community approach the next phase of Taliban rule?To discuss these questions the Institute for Government is delighted to bring together: Jack Straw, UK Foreign Secretary (2001–05) Hasina Safi, Afghanistan's acting Minister for Women (May 2020 – August 2021) Tobias Ellwood MP, Chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee The discussion will be chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.#IfGAfghanistan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Having introduced a legally binding target to achieve net zero by 2050 and with the Environment Act – designed to enforce UK environmental standards – now on the statute book, the UK government is proud of its green achievements. But does the UK’s post-Brexit independent trade policy live up to its domestic environmental commitments?Earlier this year the UK agreed to omit references to temperature goals committed to in the Paris Agreement in order to secure a free trade agreement with Australia – an agreement which, on the government’s own analysis, will result in increased use of scarce natural resources and increased waste. So does the UK need to do more to position its environmental goals at the heart of its trade policy or would this hinder the UK’s ability to strike deals across the globe? Can trade policy help deliver positive gains for the environment? And should the UK government set out an overarching trade policy to bring consistency and coherence to its trade deals?To answer these questions, and to explore what goals UK trade policy is – or ought to be – serving, the Institute for Government was delighted to bring together an expert panel including: Sir Martin Donnelly, former Permanent Secretary for the Department for International Trade (DIT) and for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (now BEIS) Dmitry Grozoubinski, Director of ExplainTrade Anna Sands, Trade Policy Specialist at WWF UK Chris Southworth, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.#IfGTradeWe would like to thank WWF UK for supporting this event.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission, who was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government.With voter ID, political party funding, and the abuse of candidates all in the spotlight, is enough being done to inspire the confidence of voters, parties and politicians in the electoral system?More than six months after becoming Chair of the Electoral Commission, John Pullinger discussed the challenges facing UK democracy and some of the changes voters might see in the months ahead. This in conversation event also explored issues relating to John Pullinger's previous role as National Statistician.John Pullinger was appointed Chair of the Electoral Commission in May 2021. Until 2019, he was the UK’s National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority. He has served as President of the Royal Statistical Society, Chair of the United Nations Statistical Commission, and Librarian and Director General for Information Services at the House of Commons.#IfGElections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it mean to be a member of parliament? What do people expect from their elected representatives? And how much have these expectations changed in recent years?The row about MPs’ second jobs has triggered a discussion about what MPs are for and what their priorities should be. From representing constituents and dealing with casework to scrutinising government and improving legislation, MPs have many responsibilities.So how should an MP divide his or her time? How has this changed over recent years? Should MPs be taking on extra paid work outside parliament? And what do constituents ultimately want from their representative?To discuss these questions and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel: Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary, University of London Sir Peter Bottomley, Conservative MP for Worthing West Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion Marie Le Conte, political journalist and author This event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.#IfGParliament Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices