Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Institute for Government
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Jun 10, 2025 • 32min

In conversation with Jeremy Hunt MP: Britain's place in the world

Britain has been through a difficult period since the global financial crisis, leading many to conclude the country is doomed to inevitable decline. But Jeremy Hunt, who was at the top of government as both Foreign Secretary and Chancellor, disagrees. In his new book, Can We Be Great Again?, he sets out to rebut those who think Britain is no longer capable of shaping the world we live in.   With the election of president Trump, a world that was already becoming more dangerous has also become more unpredictable. But when it comes to the big challenges facing the world – whether on European security, the future of democracy, migration, trade and climate – the UK remains one of the most influential countries and should, Hunt says, use that influence wisely. Hunt does not shy away from the UK’s weaknesses but argues that they should be considered in perspective and without underestimating this country’s many strengths.   To discuss his new book and the questions it raises, Jeremy Hunt was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Jun 6, 2025 • 37min

Keir Starmer gets ready for war

The newly-published Strategic Defence Review sets out how the UK can fight and win a full-scale war. So what is it recommending and just how dangerous is the world right now? Tom Newton Dunn, presenter of The General and the Journalist podcast, joins the podcast team to make sense of an ever-shifting – and alarming – defence landscape.   Plus: Spending Review countdown. This Wednesday will see Rachel Reeves reveal how much money government departments will be given for the next few years. So what choices are facing the chancellor? How much money does she have to play with? And what will her decision reveal about the government’s priorities?   Presented by Hannah White. With Alex Thomas and Gemma Tetlow. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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May 30, 2025 • 46min

How will Starmer rate his ministers

It is one year since the 2024 general election campaign kicked off and already reshuffle rumours are doing the rounds. Adam Payne, Editor of PoliticsHome, joins us to discuss whether a reshuffle is a good way to inject energy into a not-so-new government or risks knocking it off course.   The spending review is looming, and in time-honoured tradition the final negotiations are playing out in the media. We will look at what lies behind these stories and what being in a spending review is really like.     Plus: We look back at some of the ministers who left government in 2024, who shared their reflections with us in our latest Ministers Reflect interviews.   Presented by Hannah White   With Tim Durrant, Gemma Tetlow and Patrick McAlary   Produced by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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May 22, 2025 • 55min

THE ART OF THE BREXIT DEAL

Keir Starmer has signed off on a so-called UK/EU reset. So, what’s in the new deal and what does it mean for the never-ending Brexit drama? The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey joins the podcast team to dig into the detail.   Davie Gauke has been uncorked. So, what is in his review of prison sentencing? The team dig into his recommendations and give their verdict.   Plus: Nick Clegg is back! The former deputy prime minister returned to the British political stage with a big speech at the IfG this week - and he also sat down for an exclusive interview for Inside Briefing. So, is it time to reevaluate the coalition?   Presented by Jill Rutter. With Giles Wilkes and Cassia Rowland  Produced by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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May 16, 2025 • 43min

Starmer and the strangers

After Keir Starmer made headlines with his warnings of an “island of strangers”, British Future’s Sunder Katwala joins the podcast team to dig into the detail of the government’s new immigration policy. Farewell to 102 Petty France - and a few other Whitehall buildings too. The government is dispersing civil servants to new locations around the country. Will the plan work? Plus: Why the government needs to fundamentally shift its strategy for tackling homelessness. Presented by Hannah White. With Hannah Keenan, Sachin Savur and Amber Dellar. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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May 9, 2025 • 41min

The Trump-Starmer trade deal: What’s the beef?

Will white smoke on two trade deals help shift the narrative for Keir Starmer after a tricky week? Peter Foster, the FT’s new world trade editor, joins the podcast team to dig into the details of breakthrough agreements with both the US and India. Perhaps a bigger win for the government would be to achieve that elusive reset with the EU. A big summit is looming. So what is on the table and is progress on the cards? Plus:  The reshuffle rumour mill is in overdrive. Who is up? Who is in? Who is out? No, we’re not talking about ministers. This time it’s the changing of the permanent secretary guard. And the IfG is watching closely.  Hannah White presents. With Jill Rutter and Alex Thomas. Produced by Simon Williams for Podmasters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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May 6, 2025 • 50min

Local elections: Ready for Reform?

Votes have been counted – well, most of them. So what do Thursday’s elections for four regional mayors, more than 1000 councillors and the new MP for Runcorn and Helsby mean for British politics, Keir Starmer and the Labour government’s devolution agenda? Another big election has taken place too – and that’s in Canada. Mark Carney – remember him? – has won the general election, and in doing so turned around months of terrible polling for the now still ruling Liberal Party. So how did he do it and what does it mean for the UK? Plus: The data on school absence is moving in the wrong direction. Moira Wallace, who used to run Tony Blair’s Social Exclusion Unit, joins the podcast team to tell us what Keir Starmer needs to do – and how he could learn from the last Labour government. Presented by Catherine Haddon with Akash Paun and Alex Thomas. Music: ‘Everything to Me [Instrumental]’ by Notize courtesy of artlist.io Produced by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Apr 25, 2025 • 52min

Are Starmer and Badenoch making plans for Nigel?

As Labour jostles with Reform for polling points and the Conservatives debate the merits of cosying up to Nigel Farage's party, More in Common's Luke Tryl joins the podcast team to take stock of the polls - and what they might say about the upcoming local elections.With Rachel Reeves still looking nervously at the economic data and Donald Trump making increasingly hard-to-follow statements about tariffs, we assess the chancellor's trip to Washington.Plus: Are people satisfied with their GPs? A new IfG paper reveals all.Presented by Hannah White.With Jill Rutter, Tom Pope and Stuart Hoddinott.  Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Apr 15, 2025 • 52min

Extra: What is the role of big suppliers in government procurement?

Procurement is central to the operation of modern government but, following a series of high-profile scandals, is often controversial. Much of the criticism has focused on the role of the biggest suppliers, some of whom have become household names for the wrong reasons. But who are these big suppliers and how dependent is the government on them?This special episode of Inside Briefing will tell you everything you need to know about how much the government actually spends with big suppliers, the kind of services these companies provide, how well do they perform compared to other suppliers, and how effective the government is at holding them to account.With IfG programme director Nick Davies, former Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, Capita Public Service CEO Richard Holroyd, the TUC’s Director of Organising Public Services and Skills Sian Elliott, and Gus Tugendhat, Founder of Tussell.This podcast episode is kindly supported by Tussell. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Apr 11, 2025 • 40min

Trump’s Tariff Turnaround

As Donald Trump pauses his trade war (well, except in the case of China) the podcast team are joined by economist and author Duncan Weldon to make sense of the president’s wild economic rollercoaster ride – and the uncomfortable choices it means for Keir Starmer.The PM and his team have some levers to pull, and this week they eached for a familiar one labelled ‘Quango Bonfire’. So what has been announced, and will it work? Plus: What does the government want to do about immigration? A white paper is on the way. But an IfG paper is out now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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