Institute for Government

The government’s vision for net zero is based on unleashing a range of technologies through the power of the market. But getting the right mix of policy, regulation and market support to achieve this won’t be easy. Is the government being too optimistic about the speed and cost of deploying technologies? What should it learn from the UK’s success on offshore wind? And what steps does it need to take to ensure technologies can support the transition? Speakers: Dean Russell MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) at Imperial College London Dhara Vyas, Deputy Director of Energy UK This event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. This event took place at the 2022 Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.

Expanding and improving the UK’s housing stock will be crucial for delivering on the government’s flagship commitments to achieving net zero carbon emissions and levelling up economic performance and wellbeing across the country. But the government’s plans so far provide little detail about how this housing revolution will be achieved, and more clarity is needed on the mix of policy, regulation and market support measures required to create the conditions for success. We discussed the biggest challenges in delivering more affordable homes and a low-carbon transition in UK housing. Our panel includes: Bob Blackman MP, Member of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee Steve Cole, Director of Make UK Modular; Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation; Councillor Linda Taylor, Member of the LGA Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Group Rosie Toogood, Chief Executive Officer of Legal and General Modular Homes The event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. The event took place at the 2022 Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.

How can the better use of data benefit public services? Our panel, chaired by Gavin Freeguard, featured Matt Davies, Senior Policy Adviser at the Open Data Institute; Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive at Good Things Group; and Antonio Weiss, Senior Partner at The PSC. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

Technology is profoundly reconfiguring our society, creating new opportunities but also new risks and inequalities. Many politicians and policymakers have a limited understanding of technology and its effects, yet government has no choice but to grapple with these issues. How do we take technology out of the box labelled 'digital policy' and give it the attention it needs at the heart of policy and public life? We were joined by Chi Onwurah, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Innovation; James Plunkett, Executive Director at Citizens Advice; Hetan Shah, Chief Executive of The British Academy; and Jeni Tennison, Executive Director at Connected by Data. The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

After a series of ethical scandal - from Matt Hancock's breach of lockdown rules, to 'wallpapergate' and 'partygate' - Labour has suggested it is time for an Independent Ethics Commission, to bring together all the various watchdogs and strengthen their powers. But how could such a proposal work? What responsibilities could the commission take on? And is it time to redesign the system of standards in public life? We were joined by Chris Bryant MP, Chair of the Committee on Standards; Thangam Debbonaire MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons; Tim Durrant, Associate Director at the Institute for Government; Duncan Hames, Director of Policy and Programmes at Transparency International UK and Amy Leversidge, Assistant General Secretary at the FDA (trade union). The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Acting Director of the Institute for Government. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

In the UK climate remains a top-tier issue even in the face of economic turmoil, even if net zero is yet to emerge as a key area of political competition. What are the lessons of recent elections around the world for campaigning on climate change? And what should UK Labour’s approach be at the next general election? We discussed recent elections, breakdown the attitudes of voters and geographies, and look at constituencies affected by the transition – pointing to lessons around building successful electoral coalitions in support of climate action. Our panel included Bengt Bergt, SPD Member of the Bundestag; Polly Billington, Chief Executive of UK100; Megan Corton Scott, Campaigner at Greenpeace UK Tim Dixon, Co-Founder of More in Common and former Adviser to Australian Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard; Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government; and Barry Traill, Head of Climate Action Network Australia. The event was chaired by Sam Alvis, Head of Economy at Green Alliance. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

How should an incoming Labour government work with the civil service? We hosted an event exploring what mistakes previous new governments have made in how they work with civil servants for Labour to learn from. To discuss, we were joined by Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Member of Parliament for Leeds Central; Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee; Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge MP, Member of Parliament for Barking; and Alex Thomas, IfG Programme Director. The event w chaasired by Emma Norris, IfG Director of Research. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

The government has downplayed the role of behaviour change in net zero. But will people really be able to fly ‘guilt free’, or should they be expected to make modest changes to their diets and lifestyles? And how would a Labour government encourage behavioural change? We will discussed with: Kerry McCarthy MP, Shadow Minister (Climate Change and Net Zero) Darren Jones MP, Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee Dr Laure de Preux Gallone, Assistant Professor of Economics at Imperial College Business School’s Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation (CHEPI) Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE, Professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) at the University of Bath. The event was chaired by Tom Sasse, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

What role should regulators play in levelling up under a Labour government? We discussed with Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, Chair of the Lords International Agreements Select Committee; Martin Coppack Martin Coppack, Director of Fair By Design; and Ben Fisher, Director of Communications at the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

How can government policy best support innovation in the private sector to boost growth and reduce regional inequality? Our panel included Chi Onwurah, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Innovation; Adam Bennett, Client Director for Central Government at Costain Group PLC; Professor Richard Jones, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at the The University of Manchester; and John Whaling, Lead Officer for Innovation and Commercialisation at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. We also discussed what a Labour government’s approach to public R&D spending should be. The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Director of Research at the Institute for Government. This event was recorded at the 2022 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.