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Institute for Government

The first Labour government in 14 years is facing a daunting to-do list and complex challenges at every turn. Public services are under strain. The civil service is under pressure. And ministers must deliver the government’s missions and milestones. But could Keir Starmer’s plan to “rewire the British state” – through using AI and creating a “start-up” culture – turn these challenges into opportunities?
So where is government working well and what is it doing badly? What can be done to make No10, the Treasury and the rest of government function more effectively? What can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves do to achieve faster economic growth? What will Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives and the other opposition parties do to hold the government to account? How might Donald Trump shape British politics – and how could the UK’s relations with the EU change in the years ahead?
Get behind the scenes in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond on the weekly podcast from Britain’s leading governmental think tank, where we analyse the latest events in politics and explain what they mean. Every week on Inside Briefing, IfG director Hannah White and the team welcomes special guests for a thought-provoking conversation on what makes government work – and how to fix it when it doesn’t.

INSIDE BRIEFING with Institute for Government

Pat McFadden – the minister for the Cabinet Office – is making a plea for an army of disruptors to sign up to the Civil Service and make Whitehall think like a start up. Jess Studdert, director of New Local, joins us to ask whether this is fresh thinking? Plus, Rachel Reeves has another plan to whip Whitehall into shape, and it’s a familiar one. The chancellor is on the hunt for efficiency savings. So where could they be found - and will they really make a difference?
Also: From rewiring the civil service to rethinking the prison service. Does the government have plan to fix the prison service?
Hannah White presents, with Alex Thomas, Tom Pope and Cassia Rowland. Produced by Robin Leeburn for Podmasters

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Appetite for Disruption

The devolution revolution is in full swing, with Angela Rayner setting out the government’s plans to give power away across England. Former Conservative special adviser Salma Shah joins the podcast team to explore what the plan contains – and whether it stands any chance of working?
Asylum is one of the trickiest issues facing this or any government. The author of a new IfG paper tells us why what has become a chronic policy problem and what could be done to fix it. Plus: Will Elon Musk’s money be making its way into British politics? 
Hannah White presents with Sachin Savur, Akash Paun and Millie Mitchell. Produced by Candice McKenzie.

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Power to the people

The IfG team has spent the year reading government reviews, white papers, select committee reports, consultations, manifestos plans for change… you get the idea. 
 
But this podcast is going to step away from the treadmill of political news and instead bring the IfG book club to the podcast studio. So put down whichever IfG report you’re reading, get yourself a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, and join a cast of your IfG favourites to hear their top tips on non-fiction, fiction, biographies, thrillers, science fiction and more.
 
And look for a festive treat at the end of the podcast too…
 
Cath Haddon and Nicola Blacklaws present.
 
With Hannah White, Alex Thomas, Jordan Urban, Stuart Hoddinott, Jill Rutter and Sophie Metcalfe and the IfG choir.
 
Produced by Robin Leeburn for Podmasters
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Christmas Special: IfG Book Club

It has been quite some year for British politics. Sure, there were no mass-ministerial resignations, rule-breaking No10 gatherings or economy-shaking mini budgets, but July’s general election saw a change of ruling party for the first time in 14 years. 
 
So did Rishi Sunak’s final rolling of the dice really achieve anything? Could the general election ever have turned out differently? And how have Labour adapted to government – and Keir Starmer to the daurning job of prime minister? What was the surprise of the year? What was the moment of election night? And what does it all say about what might come next…?
 
Sam Freedman, Giles Wilkes, Jill Rutter and Hannah White gather in the IfG studio to look back on extraordinary 12 months for politics and government.
 
Produced by Robin Leaburn for Podmasters

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2024 in Review: The Start of the Keir Show

Tricky poll ratings, gloomy economic news, and Elon Musk's online onslaught have made for a tricky start to 2025 for Keir Starmer, but how much should No10 be worrying? Theo Bertram, a former adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown joins the pod team to give his verdict.
 
Musk's X attacks have placed the child grooming scandal on the front pages, but are the Conservatives right to call for a new inquiry?
 
The government would rather we were talking about its announcements on NHS and social care reform: our resident IfG health expert plans all?

Plus: What will Mark Zuckerberg's Meta's fact-checking shift really mean? 

Hannah White presents. With Emma Norris and Stuart Hoddinott.
 
Produced by Candice McKenzie.
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Happy New Year, Keir?

It has been a tricky couple of days for the chancellor. But how much trouble is Rachel Reeves really in and how much attention should people be paying to the markets? Politico’s Esther Webber joins the podcast team to look at the challenges facing the chancellor.
 
The prime minister tried to inject some optimism into the government’s week with a big announcement on AI, but do his plans compute? 
 
And what does the resignation of Tulip Siddiq reveal about how this government understands the way people view ministerial behaviour?
 
PLUS: How big is the civil service? How happy is the civil service? How well does the civil service actually do what it's meant to do? A new IfG report reveals EVERYTHING you need to know.
 
Presented by Hannah White.
 
With Tim Durrant, Giles Wilkes and Jack Worlidge 
 
Produced by Candice McKenzie
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Rachel Reeves takes a gilt trip

In a speech at the IfG this week, Darren Jones MP, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, insisted that “we are long overdue a reckoning with government spending and a realistic appraisal of how we're using taxpayers' money."
 
So what is Jones planning? Where might the spending cuts fall? How can AI – the so-called Chat HMTGPT – help deliver Whitehall savings? And what will Jones be doing to embed the government’s mission-led approach into the spending review?
 
After his speech, Darren Jones was in conversation with Hannah White.
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Government 2025 at The IfG: Darren Jones Keynote Speech

The details of how Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer, plotted his attack have forced the government into action. Ciaran Martin, the former CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, joins the podcast team to discuss Keir Starmer's response - and his decision to put tech firms in the spotlight.
The government also had some more positive tech announcements to make this week, so will its grand plans for overhauling digital services - in an attempt to boost productivity - really work?
Plus: Darren Jones’ big plans to do the spending review differently 
Hannah White presents.
With Cassia Rowland and Tom Pope.
Produced by Candice McKenzie 
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The Southport attacks: Has terrorism changed?

No more talk of blackholes. No more doom. No more gloom. So what is Rachel Reeves’ plan for economic growth all about? Times columnist Sebastian Payne joins the podcast team as they make their way through the chancellor’s vision of reservoirs, runways and the UK’s own Silicon Valley – and ask whether government is really set up to make it all happen.
 
Plus: Ministers Reflect devolved government special! Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and Mark Drakeford feature in a brilliant new batch of IfG interviews – and they have plenty to say about Brexit, Boris Johnson and making devolved government work.
 
Presented by Nick Davies.
With Gemma Tetlow and Millie Mitchell
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Does Rachel Reeves have a runway to growth?

Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor of the Sunday Times, joins the podcast team to discuss his new book Get In, which is being billed as the definitive account of Labour’s reinvention under Keir Starmer.
 
The prime minister is continuing his mission to reset UK/EU relations, all while trying to work out what a relationship with Donald Trump’s America should look like. We’ll take a look at the PM’s diplomatic headaches.
 
Plus: Local elections. Or rather, no local elections. The government has postponed a batch of them. So what’s going on?
 
Hannah White presents.
With Jill Rutter and Akash Paun.
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Keir Starmer: Leader or HR Manager?

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Rt Hon John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, to discuss his priorities for reforming UK defence.
 
With war in Europe, instability in the Middle East and a new US administration, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has taken centre stage during the Labour government’s first six months in power. But with increasing threats, how will the MOD ensure it stays ahead of the UK’s adversaries and deliver maximum value for taxpayers? How will it contribute to the government’s missions, particularly economic growth?
 
Healey opened the event with brief remarks on his defence reform programme, after which he was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, before taking questions from the audience.
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In conversation with John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence

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