Institute for Government

Labour’s 2024 manifesto set out a number of big changes aimed at strengthening democratic participation, such as improving voter registration, addressing inconsistencies in voter ID rules and extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds. Twenty-five years after the introduction of the UK’s political finance regime, and a billion pounds of donations later, the manifesto also committed to “strengthening the rules around donations to political parties” – something that has become more pressing as high-profile actors flirt with introducing significant sums of money into the UK’s party funding system. So what difference would these proposed changes make to the UK electoral system? Can they reignite voter confidence and engagement in the democratic process? What are the lessons learnt from the 2024 general election about turnout, the voter ID requirement, and candidate abuse and intimidation? And what should the government prioritise to ensure the electoral system is ready for the next general election in 2029 and able to address growing threats? To reflect on last summer’s election and to discuss how the government’s plans will affect the way elections work, we were joined by an expert panel: Lewis Baston, Political journalist and author Matteo Bergamini, Founder and CEO of Shout Out UK Professor Jane Green, Co-Director of the British Election Study John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This event marked official launch of the second edition of Exploring Parliament, a new book which brings together academic insights with real-world perspectives to bring parliament to life for readers. The book’s 73 authors – leading academic experts and parliamentary practitioners – offer an unrivalled insider’s guide to the UK parliament, providing an accessible yet in-depth exploration of how parliament works, its key functions, and the realities of law-making and scrutiny in the UK. Who are the key players in parliament? How is parliament organised and run? How is the government held to account? How are laws made? And what challenges does parliament face in the future? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by the editors of Exploring Parliament – who made opening remarks, reflecting on the book’s unique approach, and a panel of the book’s authors who discussed their chapters and insights. This was followed by a Q&A session. Panellists included: Professor Nicholas Allen, Professor of Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London Dr Sean Haughey, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool Chloe Mawson, Clerk Assistant at the House of Lords Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Margaret McKinnon, Director Member and Members’ Staff Services Team at the House of Commons Professor Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London (UCL) The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Introductory remarks were also delivered by the editors Professor Cristina Leston Bandeira, Dr Louise Thompson and Dr Alexandra Meakin. We would like to thank the Study of Parliament Group for kindly supporting this event.

In contrast to the halting approach to reform from the current UK government, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have moved fast to slash staff and programmes. That has led some of those frustrated with the slow pace of government reform in the UK and elsewhere to see DOGE as a model for radical reformers. But what are the actual benefits – and costs – of the Trump administration approach? Is there anything to be learnt from DOGE, or is the whole approach misconceived? And what is the better, feasible model for reformers who want to deliver change at rapid pace while avoiding the DOGE template? To explore these questions and more, the IfG was pleased to bring together an expert panel featuring: Munira Mirza, former Director of the No.10 Policy Unit Don Moynihan, Professor of Public Policy, Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan Jeni Tennison, founder and Executive Director of Connected by Data Alex Thomas, Civil Service Programme Director at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government’s first year in office and the prime minister’s agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury’s speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute’s key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute’s existing research to the government’s vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government’s first year in office and the prime minister’s agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury’s speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute’s key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute’s existing research to the government’s vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government’s first year in office and the prime minister’s agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury’s speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute’s key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute’s existing research to the government’s vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This special event considered the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government’s first year in office and the prime minister’s agenda to reform public services and rewire the state. The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, spok on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury’s speech was followed by a presentation of the Institute’s key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions. This important event highlighted the relevance of the Institute’s existing research to the government’s vital reform agenda and previewed our future research plans. Welcome and opening remarks Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Speech Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Q&A Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government Sir Ian Cheshire, Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government Presentation Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Panel discussion Sir Jonathan Jones KCB KC (Hon), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government This panel was chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Elections were held across England on 1 May, with votes cast for four regional mayors, in 24 of England’s 317 councils and to decide the new MP for Runcorn and Helsby. So who are England’s newly-elected mayors and what might they do with the power they wield? What impact will the elections have on the Labour government's devolution agenda? And what happens next with its plans to reorganise local government across England? To explore these questions and more, the IfG was delighted to bring together an expert panel featuring: Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Stuart Hoddinott, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Sarah Routley, Research Assistant at the Institute for Government The webinar was chaired by Akash Paun, Devolution Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Almost 15 years on from the coalition government’s white paper Universal Credit: Welfare that Works, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has finally concluded that its overhaul of the benefits systems is nearly complete. A few thousand people are yet to be transferred from tax credits, income support and Jobseeker’s Allowance, and a rather larger numbers are still on Employment and Support Allowance, but the DWP is confident of completion by the end of the year. The Universal Credit programme board has been closed down and the department plans to publish its version of “lessons learned” from a programme that was meant to have taken seven years from the white paper but will have taken 15. So what can this and future governments learn from the delivery of this major reform programme? How was the Universal Credit project turned around from near disaster in 2013? And, as it nears completion, what is the impact of Universal Credit? To explore these questions and more, the IfG was delighted to bring together an expert panel featuring: Neil Couling, the Senior Responsible Owner for Universal Credit for a decade until March this year Tom Loosemore, Co-founder of Public Digital and Co-author of Nesta’s report on how to transform government services Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Tom Waters, Associate Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies The event was chaired by Nicholas Timmins, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and author of the IfG’s 2016 report Universal Credit: From Disaster to Recovery?

Keir Starmer has said that “nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state” is needed for the public sector – and in particular the civil service – to deliver the government’s agenda. So what should this transformation look like – and how can it be made to last? As the government’s former lead Non-Executive Director, Michael Jary CBE worked closely with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Cabinet Secretary, the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer, as well as other senior civil servants across government, and has an unparalleled view on what works in Whitehall – and beyond – and what needs to change. In a speech at the IfG, he set out his views on what needs to change – and how this change can be embedded throughout the civil service – before taking part in a panel conversation. Alongside Michael, we were be joined by: Josie Cluer, Partner, People Advisory Services at Ernst & Young LLP Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Quin, former Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.