Institute for Government

Despite historically large tax increases since 2019, the current government’s plans imply debt continuing to rise for several years and only barely beginning to fall in five years’ time – and then only on the basis of implausible plans for public spending and rises in fuel duty that no government since 2011 has managed to implement. Drawing on Ipsos polling, this Institute for Government event discussed: What are the problems that will face a new government? How would the public like the next government to address these issues? How can the next government make progress on delivering its ambitions while maintaining fiscal sustainability?

Public services are a key election battleground. The NHS is consistently cited in surveys as one of the top two issues facing the country, while social care and schools have played a critical role in deciding recent elections. Rishi Sunak made improving NHS performance one of his key pledges, Keir Starmer included healthcare and schools in his six “first steps”, and both the Conservatives and Labour will use their manifestos to set out their public services policies. So just how well are public services performing across the country – and what impact could they have on the election campaign? In this expert briefing, the Institute for Government and Ipsos UK presented analysis of how public service performance and public satisfaction have changed over this parliament. What are the key public services challenges facing an incoming government? How much variation is there in public service performance across the country? And how does public satisfaction with services differ by constituency? To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including: Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Zoë Grünewald, Westminster Editor of the Lead UK and a freelance political journalist and broadcaster Gideon Skinner, Head of Politics, Public Affairs at Ipsos UK Phillip Woolley, Partner at Grant Thornton The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

Manifesto launches are a significant moment in any general election campaign, and Thursday’s publication of Labour’s manifesto is a big chance for Keir Starmer to set out how his party would govern if it wins the general election on 4 July. So how plausible are the manifesto’s plans? What are the big dividing lines with the Conservatives? How would a Labour government pay for public services? And what does the manifesto tell us about the priorities of a Labour government after 14 years in opposition? In this General Election 2024 webinar, the Institute for Government gives an expert briefing on what is in the Labour manifesto – and what it would mean for government. Panellists included: Sam Freedman, author of Failed State Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government (chair) For further IfG insight and analysis on the Labour manifesto, read our comment piece, 'Ten things we learned from the Labour manifesto': https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/general-election-2024-labour-manifesto

Manifesto launches are a significant moment in any general election campaign, and Tuesday’s publication of the Conservative manifesto is a big opportunity for Rishi Sunak’s party to set out its vision for government if it wins the general election on 4 July. So what are the flagship policies? Do the tax and spending numbers add up? How plausible and credible are the manifesto’s plans? And, after 14 years of power, how much of a break is this manifesto from previous Conservative policies and priorities? In this general election 2024 webinar, the Institute for Government gives you an essential expert briefing on what is in the Conservative manifesto – and what it would mean for government. Panellists included: Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government (chair) For further IfG insight and analysis on the Conservative manifesto, read our comment piece, 'Seven things we learned from the Conservative manifesto': https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/general-election-2024-conservative-manifesto

With attention focused on politicians, and politicians focused on winning votes, a general election campaign is an unusual time for civil servants. Their top priority remains serving the government of the day, but they must also prepare for a potential transition of power, and be ready to work with whoever forms the next government. Civil service activity is also restricted during the formal ‘pre-election period’, with civil service impartiality protected by government guidance and measures to stop public funds being used for campaigning purposes. So how should civil servants navigate this period of heightened political sensitivity? How does the work of the civil service change in the campaign? And what can civil servants do to prepare for a potential transition of power? Ahead of the general election on 4 July, this IfG webinar explored all these questions and more, and asked what lessons can be learned from previous election campaigns and past transitions of power. To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by: Sir David Bell KCB DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sunderland and former Permanent Secretary Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government and former senior civil servant The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow, Institute for Government.

So what can be done to improve productivity? By highlighting outstanding examples of innovation across public services, Productivity Pitches, a new series of events hosted by the IfG, aims to share and support ways to improve performance levels. This event was the third in the series and focussed on health and social care. Each speaker had 10 minutes to present their innovation, followed by 10 minutes of audience questions. The chair and a guest from The Productivity Institute – who are kindly supporting this event series – then brought together the common themes from the pitches and discussed the lessons for improving productivity.

Preventative public services are designed to deal with problems before they develop, or before they become more complicated to manage. Evidence suggests that children in particular benefit from investment whether that’s in the early years, or earlier in their life cycle, helping to prevent problems from determining their outcomes later in life. The Labour Party has put prevention at the centre of its plans for public services, promising a ‘prevention first revolution’. And the government has identified increased prevention as a key contributor towards improved public sector productivity. However, high demand for acute services means governments have often found it difficult to invest in prevention. So what can be done to bring about a change of approach? This event brought together a panel of experts to discuss: What are preventative services and how has investment in them changed over time? What evidence is there that preventative services improve outcomes and deliver savings? What are the barriers to government taking a preventative approach? How could government funding be shifted towards preventative services? What can be learnt from previous examples of preventative approaches? To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including: Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Rt Hon Sir Sajid Javid MP, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Donna Molloy, Deputy Chief Executive at Foundations Lynn Perry MBE, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Barnardo’s for kindly supporting this event.

The Rt Hon David Lammy MP set out how a foreign policy lens of 'progressive realism' might affect the practice of diplomacy, should Labour win the election. The discussion covered the evolution of the Foreign Office as an institution, under both Labour and Conservative governments. It focused in particular on the balance between traditional diplomatic activity and the new demands created by climate change, global health challenges and the regulation of emerging technologies. The Shadow Foreign Secretary also explored the convergence between domestic economic and foreign policy and its implications for how Labour's mission-driven approach would shape how Whitehall works on international issues. Following his speech, David Lammy was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, and took questions from the audience.

Parliament and regulators: How can scrutiny be improved? by Institute for Government

The Institute for Government welcomed Lucy Powell MP, the Shadow Leader of the Commons, to give a keynote speech on how a Labour government would approach parliament, the legislative process, and the role of MPs. With Westminster hit by a series of scandals in recent years, what can be done to restore parliament's image? How can the legislative process be improved? And how would Labour, if elected, approach the way that MPs work in parliament? Following her speech, Lucy Powell was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government. She then took part in an audience Q&A.