Devolution to Wales is almost 25 years old. Since the first Welsh assembly elections in 1999, the powers of the devolved institutions in Cardiff have been substantially expanded – with Welsh voters backing the historic transformation of the assembly into a law-making parliament in a 2011 referendum.  A quarter of a century since devolution began, what are the potential next steps in Wales’s unfinished constitutional journey? Set up to address this very question, the cross-party Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, established by the Welsh government, will publish its final report in January 2024 – a key moment in the debate on the future of Wales.The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, the First Minister of Wales, to discuss the findings of the commission, his perspective on how devolution to Wales could be protected and strengthened, and how a future Labour government in Westminster should reform the constitution and improve relations with the devolved administrations.Mark Drakeford was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, followed by Q&A with the live and online audience.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A wide-ranging discussion on the key issues facing government – and the economy – as a general election draws near. On the panel:• Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal and former Executive Director of Policy to Keir Starmer• Anita Boateng, Partner at Portland Communications and former Special Adviser for the Cabinet Office, MoJ and DWP• Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government• Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government• Joe Owen, Director of Impact at the Institute for Government (Chair)This event was part of the Institute for Government’s Government 2024 annual conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government, set out key findings from Performance Tracker – the IfG’s annual stocktake of nine key public services – ahead of a panel discussion on how public service performance can be turned around. On the panel: Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and Columnist at the Financial Times Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government (Chair) This event was part of the Institute for Government’s Government 2024 annual conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The IfG was delighted to welcome Rt Hon John Glen MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for a keynote speech at Government 2024, the IfG’s annual conference with Grant Thornton UK LLP. This was followed by an in conversation with Dr Hannah White OBE, Director of the IfG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The next general election is – at most – one year away. If Labour wins, there will, as is almost always the case in the UK, be an overnight transition of power. A party that has spent 14 years in opposition would be instantly thrown into government. But having focused already limited resources on election campaigning, and often lacking the knowledge and experience of being in government, how can opposition parties prepare for an overnight transition? Which issues do they need to consider ahead of a possible election win? And what challenges might arise on that first day in power? As the Institute’s research shows, proper preparation can make the difference between success and stagnation once in office. This event, the latest in the Institute for Government’s General Election programme, discussed a new IfG report – Preparing for government: How oppositions should ready themselves for power – which sets out how to prepare for a possible transition into government. Joining us to the discuss the report and its findings was an expert panel, including:  Wes Ball, former Director of the Parliamentary Labour Party Baroness Fall, former Deputy Chief of Staff to David Cameron Dr Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Lord Macpherson, former Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury (2005–16)  The event was chaired by Joe Owen, Director of Impact at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this discussion, Lord Maude, a former Minister for the Cabinet Office, dives into his recent Independent Review of Governance and Accountability in the Civil Service. He highlights the complexity and confusion in current government structures and outlines 57 proposals to enhance accountability and governance. The conversation covers pressing topics such as the proposal to split the Treasury, the role of the Cabinet Secretary, strategies for retaining talent, and the need for improved collaboration across departments, aiming for meaningful civil service reform.

After Rishi Sunak used the recent Conservative Party Conference to pitch himself as the ‘change’ candidate, the Autumn Statement on 22 November was Jeremy Hunt’s first opportunity to set out the government’s new tax and spending plans. But what the Prime Minister and Chancellor can offer will in part be shaped by the new economic and fiscal forecasts they were given by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the UK’s independent fiscal watchdog. So, what does the Autumn Statement reveal about this government’s approach to economic and fiscal policy? How has the economic and fiscal outlook changed since March and how might that shape the general election campaign? Does the government have any new plans to try to boost growth and household incomes? What do the government’s public spending plans look like – and are they plausible?To explore these questions and more, our expert panel included: • Anoosh Chakelian, Britain Editor of the New Statesman• Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government• Richard Hughes, Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility• Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for GovernmentThe event was chaired by Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

High standards are crucial for maintaining public trust in the police – but in recent years the reputation of the Metropolitan Police has been damaged by a number of scandals.Sir Mark Rowley was appointed as Met Commissioner in September 2022 with a mandate to bring in higher standards of policing, reduce crime rates, and deliver more trust in the Met Police. At this Institute for Government event, the Commissioner set out how he intends to achieve his priorities, including through changes to police structures, improved leadership, and the New Met for London plan.The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government. Following his brief opening remarks, the Commissioner took part in a Q&A with the in-person and online audience.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Public services were hit hard by the pandemic, which exacerbated existing performance problems and pressures on staff. High inflation and widespread strikes have since caused further disruption.Ahead of the Autumn Statement, this event brought together an expert panel to discuss:• How does public service performance compare to pre-pandemic levels?• How can the government recruit and retain sufficient staff to improve public service performance?• What are the key public service challenges that will be faced by the winner of the next election?As the Institute for Government and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) publish the latest edition of Performance Tracker which features new analysis on the performance of public services, Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, presented the key findings. He was joined by Stephen Bush, Associate Editor and columnist at the Financial Times, and Baroness Morris, Chair of the Lords Public Services Committee.The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government, with opening remarks by Jeffrey Matsu, Chief Economist at CIPFA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rishi Sunak has until December 2024 to call an election. While the formal starting pistol has yet to be fired, and may not be for at least a year, the long campaign has already begun. Both Sunak and Starmer are presenting themselves as the change candidate and the person to fix a country that – they both argue – is struggling to find its way.Kicking off the Institute's General Election programme, this event reflected on the opening pitches of the two main parties at their recent conferences. It will ask what change the country, government and political system needs, what change the voters want, and whether either party has a plan to deliver it.Joining us were:• Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland• Lord Mandelson, Chairman of Global Counsel and former minister in the Blair and Brown governments• Kate McCann, Political Editor at Times Radio• Lord Willetts, President of the Resolution Foundation and former minister in the Major and Cameron governmentsThe event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices