IfG Events

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

Following the publication of What Does Jeremy Think?: Jeremy Heywood and the Making of Modern Britain, Lady Suzanne Heywood joins IfG director Bronwen Maddox for a fascinating discussion about the life and career of the former Cabinet Secretary.Suzanne Heywood discusses her late husband’s experiences at the heart of government alongside four prime ministers, his views on the civil service, and how he navigated the uncharted territory of the Brexit referendum and its tumultuous fall-out. With the Greensill saga rocking British politics, she also discusses Jeremy Heywood’s thinking behind bringing Lex Greensill into government, and why he believed the private sector can play a vital role in improving the way government works. Suzanne Heywood was married to Jeremy Heywood from 1997 until his death in 2018. She worked as a civil servant in the Treasury and for McKinsey and Company before joining Exor in 2016. The biography What does Jeremy Think?: Jeremy Heywood and the making of Modern Britain, began as a joint effort between Jeremy and Suzanne. It was published earlier this year.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

Three centuries have passed since Robert Walpole became the first prime minister of Great Britain. The context of government has changed enormously, but aspects of the role remain the same. Of the 55 people who held the post some achieved greatness, some struggled with circumstances, others failed dismally.  So what is the key to being a successful prime minister? How does Boris Johnson compare to his predecessors? And does the job itself need a fundamental makeover? A fascinating new IFG LIVE discussion looks back on 300 years of prime ministers, and explores the pressures and pitfalls of being at the top of the political greasy pole. With  Iain Dale, broadcaster and author of The Prime Ministers Francis Elliott, director of advocacy at engagebritain.org, former political editor of The Times and biographer of David Cameron Rosa Prince, editor of The House Magazine and biographer of Theresa May Anthony Seldon, author of The Impossible Office: The History of the British Prime Minister  Presented by Catherine Haddon 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’s priority was clear when he appointed his first cabinet in 2019: delivering Brexit. Now, months after the UK has left the Brexit transition period, and a year into a global pandemic, the prime minister is reportedly planning to reshuffle his ministerial team.What should the prime minister be looking for as he plans to reshuffle his cabinet? What lessons can be learnt from previous reshuffles? Who might we see in the next cabinet? And what is it like being a minister during a reshuffle?Our panel to discuss these questions: Katy Balls, Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator Salma Shah, former Special Adviser to Sajid Javid Ben Riley-Smith, Political Editor at the Daily Telegraph The Rt Hon Lord Young of Cookham, former Leader of the House of Commons and Chief Whip The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.#IfGReshuffle See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a crucial year for British foreign policy. The government has recently published its plans for ‘Global Britain’ in the Integrated Review for Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. The UK holds the G7 presidency and, in June, the prime minister will host the leaders of the other G7 countries for a summit in Cornwall. The government has promised that the UK’s departure from the EU will allow Global Britain to flourish. But what does the integrated review mean for the UK’s place in the world? What can the UK achieve during its G7 presidency? How should the prime minister approach the G7 summit? The Institute for Government was delighted to bring together the following panel to discuss these issues: Chernor Bah, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Purposeful Elizabeth Dibble, Chief Operating Officer at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Sir David Lidington, Chair of the Royal United Services Institute and former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister of State for Europe The event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government#IfGG7 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices