Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

This podcast explores the transition of power from opposition to government. It discusses the concept of 'access talks' between the opposition and the civil service, highlighting the importance of building relationships and trust. The podcast also explores the process of effectively communicating priorities to civil servants in government and the significance of access talks in ensuring smooth governance and transition.

A deal to restore government in Northern Ireland has finally been struck and Stormont is set to return. So what was the decisive factor? Who are the big winners? And what are the chances of this deal actually holding? Peter Foster of the Financial Times joins the IfG team to reflect on a historic week.It is four years since the UK left the EU – so how has life outside the Single Market and the Customs Union been working out? With new border checks set to be introduced in 2024, the pod team review the state of Brexit.Plus: Just how transparent is government – and what could it to do show a willingness to open up rather than cover up? Presented by Emma Norris with Jill Rutter, Tim Durrant and Sachin Savur. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon Clarke has called for Rishi Sunak to go. A former No10 special adviser has said the Conservatives won’t win the election with Sunak at the helm. And an endless supply of new polling keeps painting an awkward picture for the PM’s prospects. So just how much trouble is Sunak in? The Times’ Geri Scott joins the podcast team to make sense of the latest chapter in the Conservative party psychodrama.Plus: Everything you need to know about the civil service. The IfG’s annual stocktake into the size, shape and performance of Whitehall is out this week. And, is the Treasury guilty of orthodox thinking? A new IfG report tests out the complaints of Liz Truss and her allies.Hannah White presents, with Giles Wilkes and Rhys Clyne. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda legislation has made its way through the House of Commons, but at what cost to his authority? Peter Ricketts, the UK’s first national security adviser, joins the podcast team to discuss Sunak’s battles with his MPs, his looming battles with the House of Lords, and his ongoing battles to get any flights off the ground.Plus, Sunak has authorised his first military action as PM, with the UK joining airstrikes against Houthi rebels. So what happens next? And is the UK – and the rest of the world – ready for the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House?Hannah White presents. With Alice Lilly and Jill Rutter. Produced by Milo Hynes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Post Office scandal has been described by Rishi Sunak as one of greatest miscarriages of justice in UK history – so who is responsible, and is the government’s response the right one? Adam Boulton, former political editor of Sky News, joins the podcast to discuss how the faulty Horizon software led to hundreds of postmasters wrongly prosecuted for theft.  Plus, the prime minister is urging voters to “stick with the plan” – but is the plan actually working? The pod team weigh up a tricky start to the year for Rishi Sunak, with a big resignation over his net zero plans and the controversial Rwanda bill returning to the Commons. And, access talks have been authorised – but is Labour prepared for the possibility of government? A new IfG report sets out what Keir Starmer needs to do.Hannah White presents with Cath Haddon and Nick Davies. Produced by Milo Hynes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2024 is going to be quite some year for politics. A general election is no more than a year away. The Conservatives are still a long way behind in the polls, but has Keir Starmer done enough to convince people to vote for Labour? What are they key dates to look out for over the next 12 months? What happens next at the Covid Inquiry? Where are local elections happening? And what are the events overseas that could yet impact on British politics?Sky’s Sam Coates joins the IfG podcast team to look ahead to what could be a hugely significant year in British politics, to explore what we know is going to happen and – after dusting down the trusty IfG crystal ball – explore what we think might happen in 2024. Hannah White presents, with Jill Rutter and Joe Owen. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you opened all your presents and need something to lift your flagging festive spirits? Perhaps those in-laws are staying a little longer than you’d like and you’re looking for a little audio escape? Or maybe you need a political fix to get you through the holidays... but you’re not quite ready to reengage with the latest Westminster machinations?Then this is the podcast for you. For one Christmas only, the IfG team have been submitting their candidates for a fantasy cabinet – and the reshuffle has been recorded for this special edition of Inside Briefing. Will Hugh Grant’s Love Actually PM get the nod as prime minister? Is Graham Norton or C3P0 the best pick for foreign secretary? Which government job would suit the Spice Girls? And does Count von Count have the right skills for chief whip, or would Danny Dyer make sure no MP puts their trotters up when a big vote was happening in Westminster?Join Alex Thomas, Emma Norris, Alice Lilly and Joe Owen for an Inside Briefing like no other, as the team step into a parallel universe and argue for their Fantasy Cabinet selections. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So that was the year that was. Just the one prime minister this time, but plenty of political drama and intrigue, twists and turns, and high and lows. David Runciman, the former host of the Talking Politics podcast, joins the IfG team to look back on the last 12 months. How did Rishi Sunak’s five pledges work out? Does anyone remember what Keir Starmer’s five missions are? What did all those by-elections tell us about what the public are really thinking? Do Boris Johnson or Liz Truss have a second political act ahead? How is David Cameron’s second political act working out? Did Nicola Sturgeon quit at just the right time? And how might conflicts overseas – and election results across the world – impact on politics at home?Hannah White presents, with Jill Rutter and Giles Wilkes. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While five groups of right wing Conservative MPs – the so-called “Five Families” – have not been making life easy for the prime minister, Rishi Sunak’s controversial immigration bill made its way through the Commons without one Tory rebelling. But is the real fight still to come? Politico’s Esther Webber joins the podcast team to take stock of a dramatic few days in parliament.Luckily for the prime minister he got to spend Monday away from Westminster. Unluckily for the prime minister he had to spend Monday giving evidence to the Covid inquiry in Paddington. So how did he do and what did we learn? And finally, as parliament shuts up shop for the festive period, the podcast team round up the week’s other events – and take a quick glance ahead to 2024.Emma Norris presents, with Olly Bartrum and Alex Thomas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Robert Jenrick has resigned as immigration minister, former home secretary Suella Braverman says the Rwanda Bill will lose the Conservatives the next election, and the prime minister has been forced hold an emergency – and rather tetchy – press conference to defend his plan. So how big a crisis is this row over immigration for the government? Paul Waugh, the i paper’s chief political commentator, joins the podcast team to look back on a very tricky week for Rishi Sunak.After much build-up, plenty of briefings to the press, and hundreds of missing WhatsApp messages, Boris Johnson this week appeared before the Covid inquiry. So what are we learning – if anything – about his government’s handling of the pandemic. And Keir Starmer made a big speech on the economy this week and also got into knots when he praised Margaret Thatcher for bringing in “meaningful change” as prime minister. So just how prepared Labour for a big year ahead?Hannah White presents, with Alex Thomas and Jill Rutter. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices