Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

“Levelling-up” was one of the key Conservative manifesto pledges at the last election, and now it even has its own government department and minister, but what exactly does it mean? A new IFG paper takes a look what the Government has been saying on the subject, and the spending promises made so far.Plus, next week sees the expiration of the £20 Universal Credit uplift, but how much pressure is chancellor Rishi Sunak under? And what should we expect from Keir Starmer’s first conference as Labour leader? The I’s deputy political editor Arj Singh joins us on today’s show. “Experts compare levelling-up to the difference between East and West Germany, which took decades” - Arj Singh “The Government are gearing up for the next election to be fought on levelling-up” - Cath Haddon “A big question is how much are we going to level-up politically with local government and city mayors?” - Cath Haddon “The problem for the Government is that they made a big increase in benefits, they now look like they’re trying to make a big cut” - Nick Timmins “This Universal Credit cut hits the areas the Government wants to level-up hardest” - Arj Singh “Keir Starmer does need to put some meat on the bones of his offer or the public will stop listening to him” - Arj Singh “Angela Rayner is positioning herself to take advantage of any slip ups from Starmer” - Arj Singh Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Eleanor Shearer and Nick Timmins. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Boris Johnson’s long awaited cabinet reshuffle finally took place, who were the winners and losers from a day of drama in Whitehall? The Daily Telegraph’s Political Editor Ben Riley-Smith joins to take a look at the ministerial movements, and what effect they will have on government and policymaking.And in another prime-ministerial pick, William Shawcross looks set to become Commissioner of Public Appointments. We take a look at the role, and the person who the PM wants to fill it. “Downing Street sees this period as a pivot point, away from COVID and towards delivering on their manifesto” - Ben Riley-Smith “This was about Johnson reshuffling the team that were loyal to him, rather than promoting rising stars” - Cath Haddon “Michael Gove has been the PM’s problem solver in the cabinet, taking on issues like the Union and Brexit planning” - Ben Riley-Smith “Deputy Prime Minister is a great title for Dominic Raab, but whether or not Johnson deputises to him is another matter” - Cath Haddon “Liz Truss has held Cabinet posts under three different Prime Ministers, it’s been a remarkable rise” - Ben Riley-Smith Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Tom Pope and Matthew Gill. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parliament only returned on Monday, but is Boris Johnson already in trouble after his rise in National Insurance threatens to hit the working age young hardest? Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie joins us to look at the Prime Minister’s internal party problems, and ask if his social care plans add up.Plus, the Autumn Budget takes place next month, but with Government spending rising, does Rishi Sunak face a difficult few weeks of saying “no”? And has COVID provided a cover for the Government to evade scrutiny? Alice Lilley explains a new IFG report. “It’s been a very bad week to be a Conservative. There will be a political backlash” - Tim Montgomerie “The Government has lost control of spending, and I don’t see a strategy from them to be fiscally responsible” - Tim Montgomerie “The promise not to raise taxes was always going to be hard to keep. Coronavirus has made that even more difficult” - Gemma Tetlow “The Government might have the votes in the Commons, but it’s losing the support of the Parliamentary party” - Tim Montgomerie “The Conservative party is going through an identity crisis. It’s becoming the party for the older voter” - Tim Montgomerie Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Alice Lilley, Gemma Tetlow and Graham Atkins. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Western intervention in Afghanistan has petered out in ignominy. Who will carry the can for Britain’s biggest foreign policy disaster in half a century? As the Foreign Office and MoD squabble, is Dominic Raab telling the truth when he blames military intelligence for this fiasco? And what does an introverted America mean for NATO and the security of the West?We look at the fallout with special guests Dan Sabbagh, The Guardian’s Defence and Security Editor, and Lucy Fisher, Deputy Political Editor at the Daily Telegraph and former Defence Editor at the Times.  “The West is completely shellshocked by America’s decision to withdraw on its own timetable… This has huge repercussions for NATO which is already hanging by a thread.” – Lucy Fisher  “If Britain had decided to commit more troops as America leaves, would the British people really have gone for it?” – Dan Sabbagh “The raw intelligence was absolutely correct, that the Taliban would be fast and ruthless But as it went up the food chain it went wildly wrong.” – Lucy Fisher “There are two ways the intelligence could have got diluted. One is overt politicisation, the other is treating it as TOO authoritative.” – Alex Thomas “My jaw was on the floor when I read that Raab and his senior team had not made a single call to the Afghan or Pakistani foreign ministries in six months.” – Lucy Fisher “There’s a clear winner here – Ben Wallace and the MoD – and a clear loser, Dominic Raab and the Foreign Office.” – Dan Sabbagh Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Alex Thomas. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This edition recorded before the emergency of Afghanistan. What is it like running the country over the Summer recess in normal times? Should certain Foreign Secretaries take account of the idea that a wise Minister never, ever goes on holiday? What happens when Foot And Mouth, floods, a sudden General Election or a pandemic blows up? What did our poor political reporters do for material? And did Blair and Cameron really share a Single Transferable Shirt for the obligatory holiday photo op?The IfG’s Alex Thomas explores the sandpits and riptides of summer governing with former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, David Cameron’s former Chief of Staff Kate Fall, Sam Coates of Sky News, and Steve Richards, host of the Rock’n’Roll Politics podcast and author of The Prime Ministers: Reflections on Leadership from Wilson to May. “Is it nice when the boss is away? Depends on the boss…” – Jacqui Smith “Quite a lot of the time ministers are miserable and neurotic… August gives them presentiments of the tense September ahead.” – Steve Richards “During the summer the media team is cut in half, but you’re still expected to fill an entire newspaper…” – Sam Coates “If you’ve got any sense as a shadow minister, you save a few choice questions to hit ministers with when the news agenda is empty.” – Jacqui Smith “Decision-making requires a hyperactive Prime Minister… You need their physical presence more than a Zoom from their holiday hideaway.” – Steve Richards Presented by Alex Thomas. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The recall of Parliament in the wake of Afghanistan’s catastrophic collapse produced one of the most passionate days the Commons has seen in many years – and a punishing experience for Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab. What will this week mean for Britain in the world and especially the Integrated Defence Review?We look at the fallout in Westminster from an historic week, with special guest Peter Ricketts, the UK’s first National Security Adviser, former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office and ex-Permanent Representative to NATO. “The raw passion and power was back in the Commons… It showed that the mood of the House can sway with just a few powerful speeches.” – Peter Ricketts “There’s a pretty unedifying spat breaking out between the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence – and that is doing nobody any good.” – Alex Thomas “This was a very sharp reminder that we are a middling power and when the big decisions are made in Washington, we have to go along with it.” – Peter Ricketts “Global Britain was always a slogan without a strategy. And now it’s caught up with the Government.” – Peter Ricketts Presented by Tim Durrant with Alice Lilley and Alex Thomas. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prime Ministerial careers tend to end abruptly and in tears. So what does an ex-PM do next? Are today’s Prime Ministers too young to fade away gracefully? Should they avoid lobbying jobs? And when it comes to backbench politics, should they stay or should they go?The IfG’s Tim Durrant discusses the mystery of the Prime Ministerial afterlife (and the lure of the comeback) with ex-Justice Secretary David Gauke, Politico’s senior political correspondent Esther Webber, Engage Britain’s Director of Advocacy and former Times political editor Francis Elliot, and the IfG’s Catherine Haddon.  “The end of your Prime Ministership can come suddenly and unexpectedly… It’s quite hard to see what you’re going to do.” – David Gauke “PMs tend to be younger now and they’re less likely to want to fade into obscurity – which going to the Lords would achieve quite easily.” – Esther Webber “Moments of maximum crisis like COVID are exactly when ex-PMs miss the office most.” – Francis Elliott  “It’s an absorbing job, it consumes all your waking hours and it’s utterly fascinating. You’ve got status and international connections. For that to end is a wrench.” – David Gauke Presented by Tim Durrant. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Boris Johnson notches up two years in No.10, are we any closer to understanding what drives him? Is there such thing as an ideology in Boris’s world – a Johnsonism? Do Prime Ministers even need a guiding philosophy? To plumb the Johnson mystery, we assemble a star panel of Times columnist Matthew Parris, The Spectator’s Isabel Hardman and Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University.  “We’ve already seen the real Boris Johnson. He’ll do and say anything to maintain his position.” – Matthew Parris  “Johnson is a chameleon. He doesn’t like sitting in a tribe and he doesn’t have friends.” – Isabel Hardman “The lack of censoriousness is where Johnson connects with traditional Toryism, and you can take it all the way back to Cavaliers and Roundheads.” – Tim Bale “Leaders don’t need ideology, they just need power. Thatcherism was a bit of a mirage…” – Matthew Parris Presented by Catherine Haddon. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Parliament breaks up, how will the Government look back on this unique and turbulent term? As Boris Johnson tries to reset his leadership after some missteps and missed opportunities, what are the post-pandemic problems he needs to fix? Two years in, his policy platform has still to take shape, so how long has the Prime Minister got? An IfG panel gets out its red pen to give marks to Johnson: Year Two. “Looking back, it’s quite hard to remember how grim January and February were.” – Joe Marshall “The excuse that ‘we just need to get on and deal with the virus’ just isn’t there anymore.” – Hannah White “Politics is going to unfreeze in the autumn, and a lot of difficult debates are going to re-emerge.” – Alex Thomas Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Hannah White, Alex Thomas, Tom Pope and Joe Marshall. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Freedom Week, a Pingdemic Party, or just a temporary holiday from restrictions that will inevitably come back in autumn? Does the Government really know what it’s doing on unlocking? Plus, who did Dominic Cummings’s latest drive-by really damage: Boris Johnson or Cummings himself? And as the rise of NEDs or Non-Executive Directors is made public by the unfortunate Gina Coladangelo, do they really add value to Government, or just more cronyism?   “People watching Cummings just think, We elected the Prime Minister, not you, mate.” – Jill Rutter  “Being cautious at the same time as celebrating Freedom Day just doesn’t stack up.” – Alex Thomas “There's a huge difference between what you're advised to do, and what you're required to do.” – Jill Rutter Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter, Alex Thomas. Matthew Gill and Tom Sasse. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices