Institute for Government

Successive UK governments have made immigration policy a high political priority, but no recent government has seemed to meet public expectations in the pursuit of those policies. So, what have recent immigration policies been trying to achieve, and why have so many people ended up unhappy with the outcome?

A new book by Madeleine Sumption explores these questions. Drawing on decades of research, she explores the unavoidable trade-offs governments face, and the impacts of their choices on people and communities.

To answer these questions and more, this IfG event brought together an expert panel, including:

Rt Hon Amber Rudd, former Home Secretary (2016–18) and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (2018–19)
Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University and a member of the UK Government’s Migration Advisory Committee
This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the Institute for Government.

The government is reeling from the revelation that Peter Mandelson was appointed as UK ambassador to the US despite having failed a security vetting process.

With the blame-game dominating the week in Westminster, what will we learn from Keir Starmer's 'judgment day' Commons statement? What will Olly Robbins – who was sacked by the PM as Foreign Office permanent secretary – reveal in a crucial select committee appearance? What has the vetting row shown about the way decisions are made at the top of government? How should the vetting and appointments process be overhauled? And what does this row mean for relations between civil servants and ministers?

An IfG expert webinar answered these questions and more.

The webinar featured:

Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government
Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Improving productivity is at the heart of the government’s plans for public services, underpins the ‘strategic and agile state’ and is a critical enabler for many of its ambitions for the future.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has been drawing on experience from the public and private sector to make sure the 2027 spending review consolidates and furthers the government’s productivity drive.

This builds on the work already underway within the government through the Office for Value for Money and its departmental target of 2% productivity, efficiencies and savings.

But what has the government achieved so far? How is HM Treasury supporting productivity improvements across government and monitoring departmental efficiency plans? What is the Chief Secretary doing to push this agenda on?

To explore these questions and to discuss his priorities and approach, the Institute for Government was pleased to be hosting Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Professor Andy Westwood, Policy Director at The Productivity Institute made opening remarks. James Murray was then in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

This event was kindly supported by The Productivity Institute (TPI).

The second webinar in our three-part series focusing on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026.

The webinar featured:

Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026

Becky Noble, Public Services AI Lead at PA Consulting

Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026

The event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the IfG and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2026.

Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG’s annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025.

We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event.

Our first webinar in a three-part series focused on the findings of Whitehall Monitor 2026.

The first Whitehall Monitor webinar – kicking off a three-part series exploring the IfG’s annual flagship report on the civil service – looked at the context in which much needed strategic workforce planning should be taking place: how the size and shape of the civil service has changed in the past year, against a backdrop of multiple exit schemes and a complex recruitment landscape.

The webinar featured:

Heloise Dunlop, Researcher at the Institute for Government and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026

Daniel Howes, Research Assistant at the IfG and co-author of Whitehall Monitor 2026

Liz Tolcher, Associate Partner – Skills & Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting

The event was chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the IfG and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2026.

Whitehall Monitor 2026, the IfG’s annual data-led assessment of the size, shape and performance of the civil service, examines how the workforce changed in 2025.

We would like to thank PA Consulting for kindly supporting this event.