Institute for Government

With rising populism, low levels of trust in governments and a sense that democratic politics cannot deliver solutions for the problems of the 21st century, the need for political leaders who can get things done in government has perhaps never been greater. These issues are not limited to the UK – cynicism and anti-politics sentiment is growing across the democratic world. So how can democratic societies attract talented people into politics and support them to do the job well? What do people want from their political leaders and what skills do these leaders need? And how what can be done to create a pipeline of leaders – from different backgrounds and with different experiences – who make a career in politics? To discuss these questions and more, this event brought together an expert panel, including: Dr Susan Close, CEO of the McKinnon Institute and Professor of Practice Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor at The Spectator (joining virtually) Jorrit de Jong, Director of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and the Emma Bloomberg Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Management Jay Weatherill AO, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government.

With elections to Stormont due in May 2027, this IfG webinar brought together an expert panel from Northern Ireland to explore the most recent developments and how they affect the prospects for the next elections. How is the executive, restored in January 2024 with the first ever nationalist first minister, faring? Will it hold on until the elections – or will the political row over Drumcree trigger another collapse? How is the economy doing, and what is happening with the budget? How are public services performing? What does Andy Burnham’s Brexit reset mean for Northern Ireland? And how are politicians in London and Belfast, including Burnham's recently appointed secretary of state Chris Bryant, managing the relationships and the politics? For answers to all these questions and more, our expert panel on 5 November featured: Professor Deirdre Heenan, Professor of Social Policy at Ulster University Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor at The Belfast Telegraph Sir David Sterling, former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Ann Watt, Director at Pivotal, Northern Ireland’s independent public policy think tank This webinar was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

From hospitals to schools, policing and local government, the effects of Labour’s promised reforms to public services are now being felt. Waiting times for some NHS services have improved, absence from schools is falling, and knife crime and neighbourhood crime have both fallen. But despite these signs of improvement, a thorny set of problems across public services could threaten Andy Burnham’s own ambitious reform agenda. The launch event for the IfG’s annual Public Services Performance Tracker, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, considered Keir Starmer’s legacy on public service improvement, how Burnham can deliver tangible improvements before the next election, and what choices face John Healey at his first budget and subsequent spending review. Our expert panel considered: What is Andy Burnham’s public service inheritance? How much progress did Keir Starmer’s government make on public services? What are the biggest public service challenges that need to be addressed over the rest of the parliament? How might Burnham’s devolution agenda transform public services? What are the implications for the budget and next year’s spending review? To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by: Amber Dellar, Researcher at the Institute for Government Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Cassia Rowland, Associate Director at the Institute for Government This webinar was chaired by Thomas Pope, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. Mark Franks, Director of Welfare at the Nuffield Foundation, made opening remarks. We would like to thank the Nuffield Foundation for kindly supporting this event.

This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference 2026. Speakers: Heather Blundell, CEO of Grayling Rt Hon Baroness Thérèse Coffey, former Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon Lord Michael Gove, Editor of The Spectator This event was chaired by Vicky Elliott, Director at the Institute for Government. This event was in partnership with The Spectator.

This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference 2026. Speakers: Helen Whately MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Helen Barnard, Director of Policy and Research at Trussell Fraser Nelson, Columnist at The Times Ben Paxton, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government This event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. This event was in partnership with Trussell.

This event took place at the Green Party Conference. Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government was joined by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales (2012–16).

This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Labour Party Conference. Speakers: Mallory Durran, Chief Technology Officer at Nesta Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Cabinet Member for Innovation at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cassia Rowland, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Rachel Taylor, UK Government & Health Industries Leader and Global Government & Public Sector Leader at PwC This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was in partnership with PwC.

This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference. Speakers: Alex Burghart MP, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director at the Institute for Government.

This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference. Speakers: Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Shadow Minister (Treasury) Henry Hill, Editor of The Critic Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham, Founder and Chairman of Francis Maude Associates Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund This event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference. Speakers: Baroness Finn of Swansea, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office Dr Patrick English, Head of Elections and Political and Social Data at YouGov Lucy Harris, former MEP and Conservative Special Adviser Salma Shah, IfG Senior fellow and former Conservative Special Adviser Tom Skinner, former Conservative Special Adviser This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director at the Institute for Government. This event was in partnership with YouGov.