Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about US politics in recent years, it’s this: don’t fall out with Donald Trump. So how have Keir Starmer and the Labour government ended up being dragged into a big row with the former - and maybe future - president? Foreign policy expert Sophia Gaston joins the podcast team to make sense of an unexpected twist in the US presidential election.The PM is in Samoa for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders. But what can the UK hope to achieve at this gathering?Plus: It has been a frenetic week of government activity, with reviews announced on the NHS, sentencing, water and more. But does this type of approach really make any difference?Emma Norris presents.With Alex Thomas and Stuart Hoddinott.Produced by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week was all about the launch of Invest 2035. Invest what? The Guardian's City Editor Anna Isaac joins the podcast team to get behind the scenes for the big government day - complete with an exclusive Elton John concert - at the Guildhall.The glitz and the glamour was designed to provide some soothing mood music ahead of the Budget - now fast approaching. We preview the latest pitch rolling. Plus: what are private members’ bills all about?Hannah White presents.With Giles Wilkes, Tom Pope and Finn Baker.Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chiefs of staff aren’t meant to become the story. But Sue Gray most definitely did - until she wasn’t. So what does Keir Starmer’s No10 reset mean for how he wants to govern – and what should Labour be doing to turn around those plummeting poll rates? More in Common’s Luke Tryl joins the podcast team to explore the Downing Street job moves and examine what voters want this government to get on and deal with. Plus: For all the drama in government, it’s the Conservatives who have stunned everyone with the latest round of their leadership contest. James Cleverly is out. Which means Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are through to face the members. So what on earth is going on…? Hannah White presents.With Nehal Davison and Jordan Urban.Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reports of dysfunction and unhappiness at the centre of government have led to Sue Gray’s departure as the prime minister’s chief of staff. In an effort to reset his top team, Keir Starmer has replaced Gray with Morgan McSweeney, and has also made a number of other key appointments to his No.10 operation. So what does this restructuring tell us about how Starmer wants to run his centre of government? What lessons should be taken from the difficulties – and disagreements – at the centre that have hindered Labour’s first 100 days in power? And what else needs to change to ensure No.10, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury deliver for the prime minister? The IfG’s final report of the Commission on the Centre of Government examined why the centre has failed successive prime ministers – and the early experiences of Keir Starmer’s administration have underlined, yet again, the urgent need to implement the Centre Commission’s seven recommendations for radical reform to create strengthened, united political leadership at the heart of government. This webinar explored Gray’s exit, assess Starmer’s reset, and discuss the IfG’s recommendations for reform. Our expert panel included:  Sam Freedman, Author of Failed State and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Dr Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government  This event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not even the torrential rain seemed to dampen the high spirits of the Conservative party conference. So what's going on? Scarlett Maguire of JL Partners joins the pod team to explore what happened in Birmingham and which of the party’s would-be leaders emerged as the front runner.With the attention of the lobby elsewhere, the government no doubt breathed a sigh of relief. But the bruising accounts of gifts and donations aren't going away, and all does not seem entirely happy at the heart of Keir Starmer's team. Is it going to get better any time soon?Plus: IfG pulses are racing after news that there is going to be a new Cabinet Secretary. The biggest job in the civil service is up for grabs after Simon Case confirmed that he'll be stepping down. So who are the front runners and what are the qualities that Keir Starmer should be looking for?Emma Norris presents.With Cath Haddon and Alex Thomas.Produced by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The IfG team is up in Liverpool for Labour's first party conference since winning the general election - and the party's first in government since 2009.  So, what's the mood? Has Keir Starmer managed to shift the narrative away from freebies and falling-outs? Does the annual party get together tell us anything about how government is working? And what should we be looking out for as the Conservatives prepare to meet in Birmingham? The Sunday Times' Gabriel Pogrund, Bloomberg's Ailbhe Rea and UK in a Changing Europe’s Anand Menon join Cath Haddon and Alex Thomas for a special live recording of Inside Briefing.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does it matter if the prime minister accepts a free gift? Lots of free gifts. The House Magazine’s Sienna Rodgers joins the Inside Briefing team to explore a question that, unfortunately for Keir Starmer, is not going away. It has also emerged that Sue Gray, the PM’s chief staff, is paid more than the country’s most senior politician - and a lot, lot more than plenty of special advisers. So is Gray’s pay day a problem? Talking of money, a new IfG report has set out how the government can save some - billions in fact. Its author reveals where the money can be found. Plus: How to complete England’s devolution map? Another new IfG report - we’re spoiling you - has the solutions. Cath Haddon presents. With Tim Durrant, Ben Paxton, Akash Paun and Matthew Fright. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Post Office and PPE VIP-lane scandals have put government procurement in the headlines – and not in a good way. But with the government spending almost £400bn a year on goods, works and services from businesses and charities, what can be done to stop things going wrong? Well, the Labour government has an opportunity – and a big one – to do things differently, with new legislation – in the form of the Procurement Act – kicking in. But what will this mean for ministers, civil servants and businesses? What opportunities will it bring? What risks might it create? The impact is not entirely clear. Drawing on a new IfG report, published in partnership with Tussell and AutogenAI, this special episode of Inside Briefing tells you everything you need to know about the scale of public procurement, where billions of pounds are spent, why failures happen, how accountability in procurement currently works (or doesn’t) and where it could be improved. Emma Norris presents. With IfG programme director Nick Davies, DEFRA chief commercial officer Einav Ben-Yehuda, the i paper’s senior report Ben Gartside, and Gus Tugendhat, Founder of Tussell. Produced by Candice McKenzie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is this the week that things started to get a little difficult for the new government? Prisoners have been released early - something which is never going to guarantee good headlines - and the row about the decision to cut winter fuel payments is not going away. So are the attacks deserved? Will the government manage to fend them off - or at least take the blows and move on? And what does this all mean for Keir Starmer?  Plus: Select committee chair elections, Conservative leadership contest, and the Liberal Democrat conference. With Emma Norris, Cath Haddon, Gemma Tetlow and Cassia Rowland, plus guest Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent for The Times. Produced by Robin Leeburn for Podmasters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The usual cut and thrust of politics took a backseat this as the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report blamed “decades of failure by central government” and the “systematic dishonesty” of multimillion-dollar companies for a fire which killed 72 people. Sam Coates of Sky News joins the podcast team to discuss the inquiry’s findings – and what happens next. Elsewhere in Westminster the focus a row featuring cabinet secretary Simon Case and the up and downs of the Conservative leadership contenders – so who has had a good week? PLUS: Who has served as a minister? Which roles have they held? What dates were they in office? All the answers can be found in the fantastic IfG Ministers Database, which launched this week. Hannah White presents. With Jill Rutter, Emma Norris and Philip Nye. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices