Paddy McAlary

On Friday evening we officially welcomed our newest members of the Fellowship of Queens'. Their admission took place in our beautiful chapel and they were welcomed in by our President, Dame Menna Rawlings. Many congratulations and welcome to Queens'.💚

So after promising to cut "wasteful spending" and council tax Reform has:
- Found no waste and instead plans to cut invest-to-save schemes
- Will now raise council tax by the full 5%
- Realised they don't control asylum spending

A staggering amount of failure in 5 months

Pride in Place Strategy The Pride in Place Strategy will help build stronger communities, create thriving places and empower local people.

The govt published its strategy to revitalise local communities last week

There is a heavy focus on directing funding to high streets and community spaces, which is part of the reason for declining "pride in place"

But it seems misguided for a few reasons

Short thread

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Excellent coverage of the latest fast stream recruitment data from @tevyemarkson.bsky.social (also featuring analysis from our recent @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report). The CSFS is attracting rising numbers of applicants – so what happens once they're on the scheme is even more important.

This interview is so much worse than the headline lets on

September 2025 reshuffle: new-look government gets down to business | Institute for Government A week has passed since Keir Starmer launched biggest reshuffle of his premiership.

2025 reshuffle: That's a wrap! Who's who in Starmer's cabinet 2.0 and what are the seven things we've learned?

@timdurrant.bsky.social , @philipnye.bsky.social, @rebeccamckee.bsky.social , @jackpannell.bsky.social @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

Angela Rayner's resignation on Friday means that a contest to replace her as deputy leader of the Labour Party has started.

Read my first explainer at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk to find out how the process will work, who is running, and when will we find out who Rayner's successor will be!

Starmer government reshuffle: PM's new cabinet takes shape | Institute for Government What does the government look like after the weekend's changes?

Thanks to @jackpannell.bsky.social for putting these together. Follow the rest of the team @timdurrant.bsky.social @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social & others at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk for more post-shuffle analysis

And keep an eye on the live blog www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

A table from the IfG showing the parliamentary private secretary roles that newly-appointed ministers held before being appointed - the original table is available at https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/starmer-reshuffle-september-2025

Fascinating analysis from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog of the new ministers: 14 of the 19 new MPs in their first ministerial role were previously parliamentary private secretaries

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

Chart from the Institute for Govt showing the degree of change in the reshuffle

What happened with ministerial changes over the weekend? @instituteforgovernment.org.uk has kept an eye on it - there are *62* ministers in new roles, meaning around half the government are in a new role today

Keep an eye on our analysis here:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

Starmer government reshuffle: PM changes top team after Rayner's exit | Institute for Government The IfG team analyse the moves as Keir Starmer reshapes his Cabinet.

This reshuffle is far bigger than initially expected!

Its impacts will reverberate for some time - but at least Starmer can finally say he seized the spotlight from Reform UK

For @instituteforgovernment.org.uk analysis 👇
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

Starmer government reshuffle: PM changes top team after Rayner's exit | Institute for Government The IfG team analyse the moves as Keir Starmer reshapes his Cabinet.

LIVEBLOG!

We've fired up the IfG reshuffle liveblog.

Essential for all the latest information as Keir Starmer reshapes his team.

Packed with data, charts, details and analysis about all the ministerial moves.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

Starmer government reshuffle: PM changes top team after Rayner's exit | Institute for Government The IfG team analyse the moves as Keir Starmer reshapes his Cabinet.

And we're off!

The @instituteforgovernment.org.uk reshuffle live blog is now live, stay with us for updates and analysis from IfG colleagues on Starmer's first government reshuffle.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

The reshuffle revelations Podcast Episode · Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · 31/07/2025 · 36m

So reshuffles. Departures always come first. PM usually goes to Palace of Westminster to do those.

Appointments later.

We did an incredibly detailed insider podcast on it all only a few weeks ago that is worth a listen as you await further news

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

While all eyes have been on Angela Rayner's big announcement, she was not the only minister to go - reports are that Poppy Gustafsson has resigned as UK investment minister meaning 11 ministers have officially resigned (and 1 has been sacked) from the government since the GE

With Rayner stepping down we have hit 10 minister's who have oficially resigned from this government. Make sure you are following @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social @rebeccamckee.bsky.social meganbryer.bsky.social for what Starmer will do next with his minsiterial team.

The Angela Rayner case is the biggest test yet for Labour’s new ethics system – but the ultimate decision is still political | Institute for Government A difficult decision awaits the prime minister.

We may find out today whether Sir Laurie Magnus concludes that Angela Rayner has broken the ministerial code. But what happens then? While this is a big test of Labour's bolstered ethics system, ultimately these things are all about the politics:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ange...

The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose A smaller Fast Stream – laser-focused on developing future leaders – would deliver more for the civil service and the country

Many organisations run graduate schemes focused on developing future leaders. That's what the fast stream has always been, at its core. It now needs to overcome the instinct to be all things to all people and rediscover that sense of purpose.

Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social:

Hybrid bills: Parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure | Institute for Government How to improve the hybrid bill legislative process.

Hybrid bills have the potential to be a powerful tool for some of the government’s infrastructure ambitions.

So how have recent hybrid bills worked and what are the key issues with the process? Read our report on parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure zurl.co/cFtJQ

Civil service graduate talent scheme needs urgent reform, says thinktank Exclusive: Institute for Government says failings are leading many fast streamers to leave programme early

Great to see our latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report on the fast stream covered in The Guardian.

The civil service wants the fast stream to do too much, all at once. A smaller programme that is laser-focused on developing future leaders would deliver more for the civil service.

The Freedom of Information Act at 25: What next for freedom of information? | Institute for Government The event includes proposals and discussion about how the Freedom of Information system can improve for the future.

A massive thank you to @jennacorderoy.bsky.social @benworthy.bsky.social @itscrowbot.bsky.social @lynnwyeth.bsky.social, John Edwards & Charlie Falconer (& a great audience) for a terrific and constructive discussion on FOI @instituteforgovernment.org.uk today

Watch back bit.ly/IfGFoI2025

Sue Gray questions class-based civil service internship scheme The PM's former chief of staff says she

As with all coverage of the civil service internship scheme, it is important to remember:

(1) It allows those on it to skip one of 2 or 3 stages of the fast stream recruitment process. Former interns then compete on an equal footing with any and all other applicants to get on the fast stream.

What do Ken Clarke's time as chancellor, Tessa Jowell's first day as a minister and Tim Loughton's jelly babies have in common?

All feature in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Ministers Reflect series!

Hear reflections, stories and advice on this special Inside Briefing co-hosted by your truly✨

Everyday I'm reshuffling | SMF analysis of past reshuffles Could as many as 2 in 5 frontbenchers face the chop this reshuffle? SMF analysis looks at the evidence from previous reshuffles.

Charts galore in my analysis of reshuffles past - could Starmer really change up to 40% of his front bench?

www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

Hybrid bills: Parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure | Institute for Government How to improve the hybrid bill legislative process.

📎REPORT: Hybrid bills: Parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure

Hybrid bills help approve major infrastructure projects, but recent cases show inefficiencies. This paper suggests reforms to improve the process and unlock the potential of hybrid bills.

Read the report:👇
zurl.co/m7cUv

Re. Farage's £ figures in announcement today on asylum plans, this is not a big money saver for govt. HO's total managed expenditure (for police, asylum, national security etc) in 24/25 was £22.5bn. That's a lot but £8bn less than e.g. DfT and 1/13th of what DWP spends. 1/7

In my latest piece for the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk I share some top tips from our newest research and podcast on how ministers can step up and lead the government through a crisis:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mini...

#crisisleadership #ministers

How to successfully deliver refugee resettlement | Institute for Government This paper summarises a roundtable discussion bringing together different parts of government working on resettlement schemes.

How to successfully deliver refugee resettlement

In this paper, @sachinsavur.bsky.social and @catherineriachi.bsky.social summarise a roundtable discussion bringing together different parts of government working on resettlement schemes.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Educational outcomes across England | Institute for Government Examining the performance gaps in schools.

NEW REPORT: how does where you live and your background affect how you do at school?

- Inequalities have widened around the country and between groups of children since the pandemic

- Progress depends on sharing what works to support disadvantaged pupils & cutting high absence

🧵👇

The secrets of being a government minister | Institute for Government To mark the 10th anniversary of Ministers Reflect, this special Inside Briefing takes a look at what former ministers have told us in the last decade.

🎧PODCAST | The secrets of being a government minister

To mark the 10th anniversary of Ministers Reflect, this special Inside Briefing takes a look at what former ministers have told us in the last decade.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...