Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Party conference season is nearly over and the IfG podcast crew have made their way back to London after their trips to Manchester and Liverpool.But which politicians will be returning to parliament battling new headaches? Has Rishi Sunak done enough to shake off the Conservatives’ post-Truss era hangover? And did Keir Starmer give Labour reason to believe that a new dawn might be about to break?The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey joins the team to take stock of the post-conference landscape, pick apart the Labour leader’s speech, and look ahead to the renewal of parliamentary hostilities.Presented by Hannah White.With Emma Norris and Cath Haddon.Produced by Milo Hynes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How will Keir Starmer respond to Rishi Sunak’s ambitious pitch to be the “change” candidate at the next general election? The New Statesman’s Anoosh Chakelian and Josh Simons, director of Labour Together, are the guests on this week’s Inside Briefing as the podcast crew preview Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool. Will the Labour leader add detailed policies to his big five missions? Will there be policy u-turns - or will we see more barnacles being carefully removed from the boat? And what challenges - or traps - has Rishi Sunak set out for Labour on HS2 and net zero? Presented by Hannah White. With Emma Norris.Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you put a load of ministers and MPs in a conference centre for four days, without enough sleep, and very little natural light, something unexpected – at least for the government – always happens. So what – and who – should we be keeping an eye on as the Conservatives decamp to Manchester for their annual conference? Will Suella Braverman – or maybe Liz Truss – create a storm on the fringe? What should Keir Starmer be worried about as he watches on from afar? And is this really a sink or swim conference for Rishi Sunak? The Spectator’s political correspondent James Heale and Robert Colville, director of the Centre for Policy Studies, join the podcast team for a special party conference preview podcast. Hannah White presents. With Cath Haddon. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rishi Sunak has ripped up the UK's net zero plan - but did the prime minister's emissions statement make sense and will it win him votes?Daily Telegraph political editor Ben Riley-Smith, the author of a new book on the last 13 years of Conservative government, is this week's podcast guest. Liz Truss returned to the political fray with a big speech at the IfG on Monday - with the former PM mounting a defence for her doomed mini-budget. Is anyone convinced?PLUS: The tumultuous last 8 years in British politics have stretched the UK constitution to - and sometimes beyond - breaking point. How can it be strengthened? The author of a new IfG report sets out a plan.Hannah White presents.With Jill Rutter and Jack Pannell.Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The podcast team dissect Rishi Sunak's appearance at the G20 summit in India - and Daily Mirror political editor John Stevens reveals what it's really like to join the prime minister on the plane for a foreign trip.Westminster has been rocked by a spy scandal - but should MPs really be that surprised?Plus: Is central government set up to deliver the government's 'levelling up' pledge - or Labour's plans for 'real life levelling up'? A new IfG report has the answers - and passes judgment.Hannah White presents. With Alex Thomas and Rebecca McKee.Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has reshuffled his team of shadow ministers. So who’s up? Who’s down? Is this the march of the Blairites? And what does the reshuffle reveal about Starmer’s plans for the general election campaign – or for government should Labour win? The Guardian’s Aletha Adu joins the IfG podcast team to run the rule over the new shadow cabinet. The concrete crisis in schools has placed education secretary Gillian Keegan under pressure – with the education secretary’s comments also landing her in hot water. So who is to blame, how has the government handled the fall-out, and how could the problem be fixed? PLUS: A very bad week for Birmingham City Council. So why are city councils running out of money? What does it mean for the people who live there? And how can the government make sure this doesn’t happen again? Hannah White presents. With Nick Davies and Sam Freedman. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former ministers and civil servants discuss the challenges of being a government minister, including managing time, working with civil servants, and handling a departmental budget. The significance of Parliament in ministers' lives is explored, along with tips for managing its pressures. Various ministerial roles and their involvement in Parliament are discussed, as well as the importance of prioritizing parliamentary responsibilities. The chapter also emphasizes the role of civil servants in supporting ministers in the legislative process and the nerve-wracking nature of answering oral questions in Parliament.

Summer is nearly over. Parliament is set to return. And the Inside Briefing team is back to take stock of the last few months – and look ahead to what a lively couple of months might bring. Ben Wallace is out, Grant Shapps is the new defence secretary, and Claire Coutinho has become the youngest member of the cabinet. But what does Rishi Sunak’s mini-reshuffle tell us about his priorities for government – and is there a better way to go about appointing government ministers? What should we look out for at the party conference season? How is the economy faring and are tax cuts at all likely? And what stage of the Nando’s spice scale is politics going to hit this autumn? Hannah White presents.With Joe Owen, Cath Haddon and Tom Pope.Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former ministers and civil servants discuss the challenges of managing budgets and working with the Treasury. They highlight the importance of understanding departmental finances, making difficult decisions on spending, and effective resource allocation. Tips for securing funding and navigating high stakes meetings are shared. Preparation and communication are key in handling budgets and working with the Treasury.

Former ministers and civil servants discuss the importance of a good working relationship with Number 10, the impact of pre-existing relationships on ministers and government reforms, officials and departments working with Number 10, and the experiences of working with special advisors in the Prime Minister's office.