IfG Events

A combination of poor public service performance and tight funding for the foreseeable future means boosting productivity – which fell both during and after the pandemic – will remain high on the agenda. The last Conservative government launched a Public Sector Productivity Programme in June 2023 , but what would a future Conservative government do to fix these issues? And how realistic is the hope of delivering better services for less?Baroness Neville-Rolfe, former Cabinet Office and Treasury ministerDan Butler, Head of Government Affairs at Google Cloud UKNick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for GovernmentProfessor Mark Thompson, Professor of Digital Economy at the University of ExeterThis event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with Google Cloud UK and the University of Exeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Years of low but volatile capital spending have left public services across the country struggling with crumbling buildings and poor-quality IT and equipment. But public finances are tight, meaning that government will need to get better value from its spending – not just rely on spending more. There is a role for both national and local government in making sure that capital budgets are spent well – so what would a Conservative government do?Speakers:Steve Brine, former Chair of the Health and Social Care Select CommitteePolly Curtis, Chief Executive of DemosStuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for GovernmentSam Rowlands MS, Welsh Shadow Minister for HealthThis event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Conservative government made substantial progress between 2019 and 2024 in devolving power to metro mayors in places including Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. Devolution was a core part of the Johnson and Sunak governments’ levelling up strategy, but was this approach a success? This panel discussed the successes and failures of devolution and consider the Conservative case for further empowerment of local leaders across England. Speakers:Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire CouncilProfessor Richard Jones, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at The University of ManchesterCouncillor Tim Oliver OBE, Leader of Surrey County Council and Chairman of the County Councils NetworkLaura Shoaf, Chief Executive of theWest Midlands Combined AuthorityThis event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with Policy@Manchester. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the last Conservative government did not use the term ‘industrial strategy’, it nonetheless effectively operated one. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt set out five “growth sectors” he wanted to support to drive through the government’s priorities, and funded an Advanced Manufacturing Plan, published a Battery Strategy, and set out plans and resources for aerospace, automotives, offshore wind and more. The government’s post-Brexit reforms to state aid gave UK ministers the ability to set the rules and deploy state subsidy in a more nimble and targeted way, while the Vaccines Taskforce set a precedent for decisive government support of a vital industry, advertising to the world the UK’s excellence in Life Sciences. But at the same time, Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government was reticent of talking about any kind of industrial strategy, unlike some previous Conservative leaders. This event discussed what the Conservatives should learn from recent experience of industrial policy.  Key questions will include:  Speakers:Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and TechnologyProfessor Nigel Brandon OBE, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of Sustainable Development in Energy at Imperial College LondonRain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI)Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for GovernmentThis event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with Imperial College London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Procurement accounts for around a third of all government expenditure – but in recent years it has been hit by a number of negative headlines. Issues with purchasing PPE in the pandemic, and more recently the Post Office scandal, have led to questions about how to hold government and suppliers to account when things go wrong. The soon to be implemented Procurement Act includes measures to improve accountability, but it is unclear how effective these will be. This event explored what the government can do to strengthen accountability.Katy Balls, Deputy Political Editor at The SpectatorDaniel Bruce, Chief Executive of Transparency International UKNick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for GovernmentJoe Powell MP, Chair of APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax and Member of Parliament for Kensington and BayswaterThis event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with Transparency International UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The government sees AI as an engine of innovation and productivity, including within government itself. But when faced with constrained public finances and a profusion of ways to use AI, where should government focus to achieve results? Could faster progress be made? This event brought together politicians and civil society representatives to discuss how government can and should make the best use of AI. It also considered how the potential risks might be anticipated and addressed, as well as how the government can maintain public trust as technological change occurs.  Speakers:Kate Bell, Assistant General Secretary of the Trades Union CongressAlwin Magimay, Global Head of AI at PA ConsultingGaia Marcus, Director of the Ada Lovelace InstituteGordon McKee MP, Member of Parliament for Glasgow SouthThis event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with PA Consulting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Labour government has set ambitious public service objectives. But with poor performance across many services and limited scope to substantially increase funding, improving public sector productivity will be critical. However, public service productivity fell both during and after the pandemic. And many of the drivers of poor productivity, such as underinvestment in capital, have been a problem for decades. This event explored what can the new Labour government do to fix these issues - and whether better services can really be delivered for less. Speakers:Georgia Gould MP, Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)Dan Butler, Head of Government Affairs at Google Cloud UKNick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for GovernmentProfessor Mark Thompson, Professor of Digital Economy at the University of ExeterThis event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with Google Cloud UK and the University of Exeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Labour party has put prevention at the centre of its plans for public services, with the new government’s public spending audit signaling greater ‘investment in prevention’. But while governments of all stripes have called for more focus on prevention, they have often found it hard to deliver. In recent years, funding of public services has increasingly shifted away from preventative interventions towards acute ones. With public spending set to remain tight for the coming years, this event explored what can the Labour government do to tip the balance towards prevention?. Speakers:Andrew Gwynne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for GovernmentDr Jennifer Dixon DBE, Chief Executive of The Health FoundationPaul Kissack, Group Chief Executive of Joseph Rowntree FoundationThis event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with The Health Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Through allocating almost half of national income, often over multiple years, spending reviews are the key vehicle through which a government can set its overarching strategy in motion. However, the approach taken in recent years has been ineffective. It has often failed to provide adequate certainty, incentivise cross-government cooperation, make the most effective use of evidence, and successfully identify opportunities for improving long-term productivity. This event explore how a new Labour government can reinvigorate the process so that it can deliver on an ambitious set of cross-cutting missions?  Speakers:Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Treasury Select CommitteeThomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for GovernmentTom Sasse, Britain Public Policy Editor at The EconomistMoira Wallace, former Permanent SecretaryThis event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with the Association for Project Management. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of the government’s objectives, including improving the performance of public services, will rely on good investment. But current plans imply investment spending plans will be tight. This event explored how the Labour government can ensure it invests well in public services.  Speakers:Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the TreasuryAnita Charlesworth, Director of Research and the REAL Centre (Research and Economic Analysis for the Long term) at the Health FoundationThomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for GovernmentPhillip Woolley, Partner at Grant Thornton UK LLPThis event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.This event was in partnership with Grant Thornton UK LLP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices