Institute for Government

The children’s social care market is often described as “broken” – including by the government itself. Too many children end up in unsuitable settings, the quality of care varies sharply across the country, and costs have risen to levels that put severe pressure on local authority budgets.

So, what does the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which has recently received Royal Assent, mean for the government’s programme to reform children’s social care?

After a short presentation on new analysis from the Institute for Government, this event – featuring the Minister for Children and Families – examined how government can ensure its reforms are implemented effectively and deliver lasting improvements in children’s social care.

To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:

Amber Dellar, Researcher at the Institute for Government
Josh MacAlister OBE MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families) at the Department for Education
Rachael Wardell OBE, Immediate Past President of the Association of Directors of Children's Services

This event was chaired by Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

With a crucial set of local and devolved elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales on Thursday 7 May, the Institute for Government devolution team hosted an expert webinar the day after to discuss the results so far.

What is the likely composition of the new governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff and what will be their policy priorities? What are the implications for UK-devolved relations? And what do election results in county councils, London boroughs, district and unitary authorities across England mean for the government’s local government reorganisation and devolution plans?

To discuss these questions and more, including from the live online audience, were the IfG’s expert devolution and local government team:

Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher for Devolution at the Institute for Government
Megan Isaac, Research Assistant for Devolution at the Institute for Government
Harriet Shaw, Researcher for Devolution at the Institute for Government
This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution at the Institute for Government.

The Palace of Westminster is one of the world’s most recognisable historic buildings and the home of the UK parliament. Yet much of the estate is in urgent need of repair. While debates over how to approach the Restoration and Renewal programme have continued for over a decade, other countries have already moved ahead: Austria has completed the renovation of its parliament, and Canada’s is well underway.

In February, the Restoration and Renewal Client Board set out updated costings and recommended two possible paths forward – full decant or enhanced maintenance and improvement. Parliament is expected to debate the Client Board’s report in the coming weeks.

With the stage now set for parliament to embark on a project that will not only safeguard this historic landmark but also reimagine it for future generations, this IfG event explored lessons from other international projects, and discuss what the Restoration and Renewal programme could mean for parliament, industry and the wider public.

To discuss all this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including:

Jennifer Garrett, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Parliamentary Precinct Branch of the Government of Canada (joining remotely)
Dr Alexandra Meakin, Lecturer in British Politics at the University of Leeds
Jack Pringle, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Nick Smith MP, Chair of the House of Commons Administration Committee
The event was chaired by Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank RIBA for kindly supporting this event.

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

The third Whitehall Monitor webinar – the final in a three-part series exploring the IfG’s annual flagship report on the civil service – took a deeper look at the people who make up the civil service workforce, including diversity and morale, and considers the crucial role of, and challenges facing, civil service leadership today.

The webinar featured:

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

Tom Fitzlucas, People and Change Expert at PA Consulting

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

The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the IfG.

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.

On Thursday 7 May, voters in Scotland and Wales will elect the members of the devolved parliaments in Edinburgh and Cardiff. A change of government is expected in Wales, where Labour trails both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK in the polls. In Scotland, by contrast, the SNP is forecast to take a fifth successive victory, potentially with an outright majority, which the party will claim provides a mandate for an independence referendum.

What are the probable electoral and government formation scenarios? What will the results mean for how Scotland and Wales are governed? What challenges and opportunities will face the incoming first ministers? And what are the potential implications for Westminster and relations between the UK nations? On the eve of these crucial votes, the Institute for Government convened an expert panel to explore what is at stake and what is likely to happen.

On the panel:

Professor John Curtice, Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde
Liz Lloyd, former Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Scotland, Specialist Partner at Flint Global
Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution at the Institute for Government
Jane Runeckles, former Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Wales, FDA National Officer
This event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.