Institute for Government

General election: What makes a successful communications strategy? by Institute for Government

The success of the civil service has always depended on the recruitment and retention of exceptional individuals – and this means bringing in talented outsiders with particular skills and capabilities. It is 170 years since the Northcote-Trevelyan report argued that people “of the highest abilities should be selected for the highest posts” in Whitehall, while the government’s most recent reform plan, the 2021 Declaration on Government Reform, argued that more external recruits were needed. So, who are the officials at the very top of the civil service – and is enough being done to recruit the best outside talent? Permanent secretaries Cat Little, Sarah Munby and Gareth Davies joined us to discuss the benefits of external recruitment to the civil service.

On Thursday 2 May 2024, voters across England and Wales will head to the polls in a major set of local and mayoral elections. The highest-profile contests will be the election of 10 influential metro mayors – including in Greater London and across the north and the midlands. Together these leaders will be responsible for over £25bn of public spending and will play a vital role in shaping the fortunes of the places they represent. Thousands of councillors in over 100 local areas across England are also up for election, with the successful candidates taking responsibility for key public services at a time of acute financial pressures across local government. Voters will also elect 37 police and crime commissioners and the 25 members of the London Assembly. These elections are far more important than just providing a straw in the wind for the general election to come. To discuss why these elections matter and what to expect, the Institute for Government hosted a public event with expert panellists including: Sarah Calkin, Editor of the Local Government Chronicle Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University and Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Social Research Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

The establishment of the mayor of London and the London Assembly in 2000 was a milestone moment for English devolution. With a budget of over £20bn and responsibility for key functions – including transport, policing and economic development – the mayor of London is one of the most powerful and high-profile figures in British politics. The UK government has gone on to devolve powers to other cities and regions across England and in some cases – such as the ‘trailblazer’ deals offered to Greater Manchester and the West Midlands – these powers have gone further than London’s deal. So is it time to reopen London’s own devolution settlement? Is there a case for further devolution to the capital – and if so of which powers? How could the role of the mayor change in the future? And is wider reform of London’s institutions also needed? Ahead of the May 2024 mayoral and assembly elections, the Institute for Government – in partnership with OnLondon.co.uk – was pleased to host this event to consider where devolution to London goes next. We were joined by an expert panel, comprised of: Alison Griffin, Chief Executive of London Councils Alexander Jan, Chair of the Central District Alliance and Hatton Garden BIDs Antonia Jennings, Chief Executive of Centre for London Professor Tony Travers, Director of LSE London The event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank the Central District Alliance BID, the London Heritage Quarter and Primera for kindly supporting this event.

From little black books to pet tarantulas, MPs being dragged out of ambulances to vote and tantalising promises of ministerial office, the alleged ‘dark arts’ of the government Whips’ Office have a fearsome reputation. But in reality a government whip is an important conduit between backbenchers and No.10, while also playing an increasingly large role in supporting the wellbeing of MPs. After the election, whips will have to help a large intake of new MPs navigate the Commons – and keep an eye out for any potential ministerial talent. Following the IfG’s recent interviews with former government whips, this event considered how the role has evolved over recent decades. What makes an effective whip? Are whipping practices fit for the 2020s? And how should the role of a government whip change in the future? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including: Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP, former Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Rt Hon Anne Milton, former Deputy Chief Whip Dr Emma Peplow, Head of Oral History at the History of Parliament Trust Chris White, Co-Head, Advocacy at SEC Newgate and former special adviser The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Trust in government and politicians continues to fall, and this parliament has seen many ethical scandals, from partygate to bullying. Over the last few years, various organisations including the IfG have called for major reforms to the way ethical standards are upheld in public life, but the government has only made piecemeal changes. Labour has criticised the Conservatives for their performance on this issue, but has recently been less vocal on the topic. With an election due in the coming months, will the political parties make ethical standards an issue during the campaign? To discuss the IfG’s proposals on rebuilding trust in public life, how things can be improved, and why this topic matters ahead of the election, we were pleased to welcome a great panel: Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Shadow Minister Without Portfolio (Cabinet Office) and Labour MP for Torfaen Esther Webber, Senior UK Correspondent at Politico Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Wright MP, Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam and former Attorney General The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government.

Less than a year out from a general election, the significance of opinion polls in shaping public perception and political strategy is increasingly prominent. Political pundits, parties, journalists and members of the public look to opinion polls to give them a picture of what people are thinking about parties and politicians, their priorities and concerns, and how they might vote. Crucially, public opinion will inform political parties’ election strategies and the public’s voting decisions. But with multiple companies publishing a range of different polls, it can be a confusing landscape. To interpret polling results, understanding the methodologies behind opinion polls, including sampling, margin of error and the all-important question framing, is more important than ever. And for those trying to understand party strategies, it is essential to understand the role polling plays. To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including: Kelly Beaver MBE, Chief Executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland Christabel Cooper, Director of Research at Labour Together Rob Ford, Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe Tom Lubbock, Founding Partner of JL Partners The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank UKICE for kindly supporting this event.

The question of how to reform the House of Lords dominates discussions about the upper house, with less attention focused on its day-to-day activities. Since his election as Lord Speaker in 2021, Lord McFall of Alcluith has sought to champion its important role of revising legislation and advising the government, while ensuring the Lords remains on the path of modernisation. Lord McFall has focused on parliamentary outreach and prioritised communicating the value of the House of Lords externally, bringing the devolved parliaments and Westminster closer. He has also worked with schools and universities, and launched a podcast, to demystify the upper house. What are public perceptions of the upper chamber and how have they changed? How has the Lords changed its ways of working? What kinds of links does it have with the devolved parliaments? And what might all of this mean for discussions about reform of the Lords? Lord McFall addressed these questions and more in a keynote speech at the Institute for Government, before taking part in a discussion with the IfG’s Director Dr Hannah White and an audience Q&A. Lord McFall of Alcluith became Lord Speaker in 2021, having served as senior deputy speaker for five years. He entered the Lords in 2010 after spending 23 years in the Commons as Labour MP for Dumbarton and later West Dumbartonshire. There, he served as a minister in the Northern Ireland Office, a government whip, and chaired the Treasury Select Committee between 2001 and 2010, including during the global financial crisis. Before entering politics, Lord McFall worked for over a decade as a teacher.

AI-generated ‘deepfake’ audio clips of both London mayor Sadiq Khan and leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer have circulated on social media. A faked robocall impersonating Joe Biden was sent to voters before a primary election. The number of AI-enhanced images of politicians is increasing. In a year when over two billion people in more than 50 countries will vote in elections, the use of AI technology – more widely accessible than ever – and disinformation could have a major impact on trust and integrity. So what can be done to tackle this growing problem? What can political parties, government, media companies and civil society do to mitigate the risks of AI and ensure electoral integrity? And what steps can be taken ahead the elections of 2024 and then in the longer term. We were joined by an expert panel, including: Professor Joe Burton, Professor of International Security in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation and Digital Transformation at the Electoral Commission Chris Morris, Chief Executive of Full Fact Simon Staffell, Director of Government Affairs at Microsoft The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Lancaster University for kindly supporting this event.

Just a few hours after Jeremy Hunt sets out his spring budget, a team of Institute for Government experts gathered in the IfG studio to record a special edition of the Inside Briefing podcast. Olly Bartrum, Jill Rutter, Dr Gemma Tetlow and Giles Wilkes gave their instant reaction to the budget and shared expert analysis of a major day for the country. What have we learned from the chancellor’s big announcements and what choices did he make? What did the new OBR forecasts show about the UK’s economic prospects? What did it mean for public services? How did Labour respond? And how might this budget shape the battles on the economy at the next general election – and when that election might be held?