Institute for Government

Ministerial resignations, letters of no confidence, and Andy Burnham’s determination to return to Westminster have rocked Keir Starmer’s premiership. Plenty of twists and turn await in the coming weeks, with the work of government continuing under a cloud of uncertainty.

So how can a prime minister lead a government if their authority is being questioned by their own MPs? What would a Labour leadership contest mean for the way government operates? What is the impact of this volatility on the civil service and the government’s legislative programme? Do Wes Streeting’s accusations of Starmer’s lack of vision and direction stack up – and, if so, how should this or another PM approach the job in a different way?

To discuss all these questions, and make sense of what a return to chaos means for British government, this expert IfG webinar featured:

Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the Institute for Government
Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government
The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

The government has introduced the Representation of the People Bill to lower the voting age to 16, change how electoral rules are enforced and – potentially – introduce new restrictions on political donations. But embedding new processes for registering to vote, changing how electoral rules are enforced, and ensuring there is clear information for 16- and 17-year-olds will all take time – and affect the work of the Electoral Commission, local authorities, schools, civil society groups and others in the run-up to the next general election.

So, what needs to happen after the Bill gets Royal Assent? How will the Bill change the remit of the Electoral Commission – and is the Commission prepared? What do local authorities need to do to get ready? What information will new voters need? And what needs to change culturally as well as administratively?

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

Harriet Andrews, Director of The Politics Project
John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission
Prof. Alan Renwick, Director of the Constitution Unit at UCL
Clare Sim, Head of Member Support at the Association of Electoral Administrators (joining remotely)

The event was chaired by Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the 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.