Institute for Government

Devolution deals have transferred control of various budgets and functions – including over transport, skills, housing and planning – from central government to metro mayors and combined authorities in many parts of England. The devolution process is continuing. Five new mayors are due to be elected in 2024 – in the East Midlands, North East, York and North Yorkshire, Suffolk and Norfolk – and additional powers are being devolved to Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. A further wave of deals is expected before the 2024 general election, with Labour also committed to extending devolution if it forms the next government. So how can England’s cities and counties best negotiate and implement devolution deals? How should they establish effective new combined authorities to run devolved functions? And what lessons can be learnt from the past decade of devolution? The Institute for Government – in partnership with the University of Nottingham’s Institute for Policy and Engagement – hosted a launch event in Nottingham for its new report setting out evidence-based advice for how to make a success of devolution. After a welcome by Professor Jane Norman, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nottingham, Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, presented the report’s findings. There was then be a discussion among panellists including: Cllr Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council and MP for Mansfield Professor Sarah Hall, Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Nottingham and Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe Richard Parker, Labour Party candidate in 2024 for Mayor of the West Midlands The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government.

Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world. With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer pledging to hit ambitious emissions targets and make the UK a clean energy ‘superpower’, the net zero agenda will be a major issue at the next general election. So what needs to be done to switch the UK from being an economy powered by carbon to one that is near emissions free, and does the UK have a credible plan to hit its net zero targets? To explore these critical questions, and examine what government needs to do to meet its climate objectives, the Institute for Government brought together leading politicians and experts from the UK and beyond for a special net zero conference. The morning focused on whether the UK government has the right policies in place to cut emissions. And in the afternoon we examined government’s role in supporting green industries, following major subsidies announced by the US and the EU. This event explored how the UK should respond as other countries shift towards green industries. Speakers included: Elisabetta Cornago, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform Joss Garman, Executive Director of the European Climate Foundation Michael Liebreich, Chairman and CEO of Liebreich Associates Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former special adviser Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government (chair) With a brief introduction from Amanda Tickel, Head of Tax and Trade Policy at Deloitte.

At this session, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Net Zero, joined Emma Norris, IfG Deputy Director, to discuss how a Labour government would do net zero differently. This event was part of the IfG's Net Zero Conference. Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world. With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer pledging to hit ambitious emissions targets and make the UK a clean energy ‘superpower’, the net zero agenda will be a major issue at the next general election. So what needs to be done to switch the UK from being an economy powered by carbon to one that is near emissions free, and does the UK have a credible plan to hit its net zero targets? To explore these critical questions, and examine what government needs to do to meet its climate objectives, the Institute for Government brought together leading politicians and experts from the UK and beyond for a special net zero conference. The morning focused on whether the UK government has the right policies in place to cut emissions. And in the afternoon we examined government’s role in supporting green industries, following major subsidies announced by the US and the EU.

Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world. With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer pledging to hit ambitious emissions targets and make the UK a clean energy ‘superpower’, the net zero agenda will be a major issue at the next general election. So what needs to be done to switch the UK from being an economy powered by carbon to one that is near emissions free, and does the UK have a credible plan to hit its net zero targets? To explore these critical questions, and examine what government needs to do to meet its climate objectives, the Institute for Government brought together leading politicians and experts from the UK and beyond for a special net zero conference. The morning focused on whether the UK government has the right policies in place to cut emissions. And in the afternoon we examined government’s role in supporting green industries, following major subsidies announced by the US and the EU. At this session we explored whether the government has a robust plan for delivering net zero. Speakers included: David Joffe, Director of Analysis at the Climate Change Committee Guy Newey, Chief Executive of Energy Systems Catapult Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Charlotte Warburton, Public Sector Sustainability & Climate Lead at Deloitte Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government (chair)

The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP joined Dr Hannah White, IfG Director, to discuss his Independent Review of Net Zero. This event was part of the IfG's Net Zero Conference. Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world. With both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer pledging to hit ambitious emissions targets and make the UK a clean energy ‘superpower’, the net zero agenda will be a major issue at the next general election. So what needs to be done to switch the UK from being an economy powered by carbon to one that is near emissions free, and does the UK have a credible plan to hit its net zero targets? To explore these critical questions, and examine what government needs to do to meet its climate objectives, the Institute for Government brought together leading politicians and experts from the UK and beyond for a special net zero conference. The morning focused on whether the UK government has the right policies in place to cut emissions. And in the afternoon we examined government’s role in supporting green industries, following major subsidies announced by the US and the EU.

Over many years Sajid Javid held some of the most senior roles in British government, serving as a secretary of state in six different departments under three different prime ministers – including as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary. Javid, who will stand down from parliament at the next election, is now a commissioner on the Institute for Government’s Centre Commission. At this ‘in conversation’ event he shared his experiences at the heart of government to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses at the centre and how they could be fixed. What are the biggest problems with the centre of government? What are the tensions between No.10 and the Treasury? How does the centre work with the rest of government? And how can the priorities of a prime minister best be delivered? To discuss these questions and more, Sajid Javid was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, followed by a Q&A. Follow us on Twitter @ifgevents and join the conversation using #IfGCentre. The Institute for Government’s Commission on the Centre of Government is looking at why No.10, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury do not always work as well as they should and what could be done to radically improve the centre of UK government. The Centre Commission’s purpose is to produce concrete recommendations for a confident, proactive, coherently-structured centre of government equipped to meet the challenges and take the opportunities of the 21st century and deliver for the people of the UK. The Commission will report in February 2024.

Improving economic performance outside London and the South East is a core aim of the government’s levelling up agenda. Drawing on past IfG research, this event explored what policies, and policy approaches, would best support economic performance outside London and the South East and compare these with the government’s current policies. Our panel discussed: What policies would be most effective to achieve the government’s productivity mission and what should the government prioritise? What will the Sunak government do differently to the Johnson government and where can it make improvements? Are there lessons from the way other countries have attempted to level up? And how important are the economic aspects of levelling up, as opposed to other missions to increase pride in place and wellbeing? To explore these questions, the IfG brought together an expert panel including: Adam Hawksbee, Deputy Director at Onward Ruth Kelly, Chief Analyst at the National Audit Office Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Professor Bart Van Ark, Professor of Productivity Studies at the Alliance Manchester Business School, and Managing Director of The Productivity Institute at The University of Manchester The event was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

Northern Ireland has had no ministers since October. The DUP is refusing to re-enter into power-sharing arrangements in protest over the Northern Ireland protocol; despite the new Windsor Framework agreement, the party has still not returned to Stormont. The Secretary of State has had to set a budget for Northern Ireland, and civil servants are obliged to make difficult decisions to balance the books. To discuss the ongoing governance challenges in Northern Ireland, reflect on the impact of the Windsor Framework, and set out the Northern Ireland Office’s approach to restoring power-sharing, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, the Northern Ireland Secretary, spoke at the Institute for Government. The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director at the Institute for Government.

With the government taking the Covid inquiry to court to protect WhatsApp messages, the use of WhatsApp is in the spotlight. It has become fundamental to the way Westminster and Whitehall works – but is this way of communicating good for government? It has been reported that key decisions during the pandemic were taken in WhatsApp groups – made up of the prime minister and a handful of advisers. While some messages have been leaked, much of the content may never see the light of day – particularly with some users setting their messages to ‘disappear’ within days or even hours. So is WhatsApp changing the way decisions are made or is it just the 21st century equivalent of an informal conversation in a corridor, a bar, or on a phone? What can be done to ensure decisions taken on WhatsApp are shared and scrutinised? And how much has changed in government since the app was first launched? To discuss all this and more, the Institute for Government brought together an expert panel: Dr Alice Lilly, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Emily Walch, former special adviser to Vince Cable and Senior Counsel at Grayling Matt Warman MP, former Minister of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (appearing virtually) Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor at The Times This event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Sir Jon Thompson, Chief Executive of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence and HMRC. Sir Jon has led the FRC – which oversees audit and corporate governance reform of the UK's largest companies – through a period of major transformation, and last year the FRC issued record fines, including for misconduct at KPMG following its audits of Regenersis and Carillion. Ahead of standing down from leading the FRC, Sir Jon reflected on his experience of being a regulator and the role that the audit watchdog plays. How far should regulation prevent corporate failures? What is the future of audit reform? And how can regulation keep pace with technological and social change? To discuss these questions and look ahead to some of the key challenges facing regulators in the UK, Sir Jon was in conversation with Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Sir Jon Thompson has been CEO of the FRC since 2019. He was appointed chair of High Speed Two in February 2023, and will leave the FRC later this year.