Rebecca McKee

Live on BBC news now.

@tompope.bsky.social of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk giving his instant reaction to shadow chancellor Mel Stride’s speech at Conservative Party Conference

But now we're back to this sort of nonsense

I'm sure public toilets are needed. But why put up more barriers to accessing funding?

And then there's this baffling array of funds worth tiny amounts of money. All designed with good intentions, but why not just increase LAs grant funding instead!

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...

IfG at the Labour Party Conference 2025 | Institute for Government The IfG was in Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference 2025.

If (shock horror) you managed to miss @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at Labour conference then have no fear. Audio from all our events is now online. This includes 3 events I chaired: implementing govt's health reforms, delivering preventative healthcare, and rebuilding the criminal justice system

The Best Start early years programme is being compared to Sure Start. Are the comparisons warranted? The government launched its Best Start in Life strategy this summer. CSW asks the experts if comparisons to Sure Start are valid, and whether Best ...

“The lion’s share of spending in the early years system is directed at growth, not the opportunity mission” says @nehaldavison.bsky.social
who describes the ambition of Best Start as “similar-ish” to that of Sure Start.

Read the interview here: www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...

A group of people recording a podcast

Recording a Labour Party Conference Inside Briefing special in Liverpool.

Watch out for our instant reaction to Keir Starmer's #Lab25 speech with special guest @sophiestowers.bsky.social and the IfG's @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social 👀🎧

As trailed in the papers earlier, Reeves's speech did roll the pitch for tax rises in the Budget - pointing to 14 years of weak growth creating a fiscal problem and the foolhardiness of simply ignoring fiscal constraints (she said there was "nothing progressive" about that)...

I really enjoyed this, great discussion with an excellent panel. If you didn't make it there'll be a recording on our website soon!

Lots on how places can keep momentum up and deliver on economic growth strategies

This interview is so much worse than the headline lets on

All UK adults to require digital ID under Keir Starmer plan The ‘Brit card’ would be part of efforts to tackle illegal migration by verifying right to live and work in Britain

Fortunately @jillongovt.bsky.social has just written us an excellent explainer on digital ID cards! Everything you need to know here… www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/di...

www.thetimes.com/article/3fed...

Seems that the ONS data below is the Annual Population Survey

The Office for Statistics Regulation suspended the accredited status of that data last year

i.e. @thetimes.com chart is almost certainly wrong. The number of doctors working in the NHS increased since 2021, and they're ~80% of doctors

The role of procurement in delivering mission-led government | Institute for Government How can the government remove the barriers to its missions?

NEW REPORT: @instituteforgovernment.org.uk finds that confused missions, pervasive risk aversion, poor data quality, insufficient commericial capability, and a failure to focus on outcomes means that govt is failing to make the most of £400bn+ a year it spends on procurement

Cabinet ministers to recommend lifting two-child benefit cap Starmer to be urged by taskforce before the budget to make the change — but it will cost £3bn a year when Rachel Reeves is trying to plug a spending gap

Making this taskforce 'internal' rather than independent (unlike e.g. sentencing) was a choice, presumably for greater control over recs. So is this just pitch rolling? Or evidence that an 'internal' review of controversial policy doesn't necessarily mean control?
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

John Denham highlights the wealth of innovation, experience and good practice in public engagement held in district, county, unitary councils that could be lost in LGR

A point I'm keen to come back to, how can places capture meaningful engagement in LGR/local growth many other things they're doing

It's happening TODAY!⏰

Local government reorganisation and public service delivery: What are the options and challenges?

Join us to explore how to ensure a seamless transfer of district council functions and services to new unitary authorities.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/local-...

The role of procurement in delivering mission-led government | Institute for Government How can the government remove the barriers to its missions?

Government spends >£400bn each year (!!!) buying stuff from the private and voluntary sectors. With a tricky budget coming up and Starmer's focus on delivery, our new report sets out the role procurement can play in delivering mission-led government
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

How can local places maximise the benefits of devolution to drive economic growth? Monday 29 September | 15:00–16:00 Speakers: Maya Ellis MP, Member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee Mayor Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Professor Lisa Collins, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the University of Surrey Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government This event will be chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. This event is in partnership with the University of Surrey.

How can local places maximise the benefits of devolution to drive economic growth?

Join us at #Lab25 on Monday 29 Sept with
@mayaellismp.bsky.social @lcrmayor.bsky.social @uniofsurrey.bsky.social @rebeccamckee.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-la...

This evening, 1730-1830, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk and Norse Group have lined up a great panel to discuss the findings of a new report on local government reorganisation and public service delivery. Signup details at:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/local-...

New from my excellent @instituteforgovernment.org.uk colleagues

Tax rises look inevitable this Autumn, so how should Rachel Reeves approach this - creating a convincing narrative and reducing uncertainty?

💡Health workforce in the spotlight at the #TRANSITION project closing with @europeancancer.bsky.social

@matthiaswismar.bsky.social shared lessons from:
- #JAHEROES on workforce planning
- #BeWell Project on closing the digital skills gap
- Our work with @who.int on investing in edu & training

The Human Handbrake: How Whitehall culture holds back public service reform Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.

Delighted to publish this first paper in @demos-uk.bsky.social Powering Public Service Reform programme today.

And it’s only right that we start with one of reform's biggest, but simultaneously least explored, barriers: culture.

demos.co.uk/research/the...

Everyone should buddy up with parliamentary clerk

New report from my excellent colleague - and very timely not just because it's literally when DPPs present their plans but also because this was a hot topic at the Liberal Democrat party conference when I was there yesterday

How will Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats use the conference spotlight? | Institute for Government The Liberal Democrats are a big presence in Westminster and in local government.

Sir Ed Davey’s Lib Dems face the more immediate challenging of governing effectively at a local level and opposing effectively in Westminster.

Ahead of Davey's #LDConf speech today, read our comment on how his party will use the conference spotlight www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ed-d...

All the info on the event next week at Labour Party Conference with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social below!

I really enjoyed this discussion, lots of great questions! Look out for the recording on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk website soon

We'll be at Labour Conference next week tackling this topic from a slightly different angle 3pm Monday 29th in our IfG room (Clyde lower level) see you there!

In Bournemouth today for the Lib Dem party conference, I'll be tackling the question 'How can local places ensure devolution delivers economic growth?' along with our expert panel and chair @tompope.bsky.social in partnership with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social at 18.15!

Worth saying also a big well done to all the staff behind the scenes (also some in front on our screens!) - some have had recess leave cancelled, along with some late nights recently due to the amount of legislation currently going through the Lords.

What are the next stages for Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill? | Institute for Government MPs voted in favour of Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at third reading on 20 June, what comes next?

The assisted dying bill has passed second reading in the Lords. More on the next steps and some of the differences between Commons and Lords procedure in our explainer

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ki...

Very interesting regarding the Cabinet