Megan Isaac

The government’s decision to delay mayoral elections cannot be justified on democratic or fairness grounds | Institute for Government The government has postponed the May 2026 mayoral elections in Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent, and Norfolk and Suffolk.

The government's decision to delay the 2026 mayoral elections in DPP areas is truly baffling and v disappointing

Excellent analysis in this from @matthewfright.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

Autumn budget 2025: What is Rachel Reeves’ plan for the economy? | Institute for Government An IfG expert webinar on the chancellor’s budget.

6/ For more budget analysis, keep an eye on our live blog and catch-up on yesterday's webinar with our excellent public finances team.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/autumn...

5/ The UK government also announced direct investment including £783m across three years through the new local growth programme - but it is unclear what say, if any, the devolved administrations will have over this funding.

A policy statement is expected with more details...

A stacked bar chart showing the Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland (£370m), Wales (£505m) and Scotland (£820m) as a result of UK Government spending at the 2025 Budget.

4/ With several billion announced in England-only spending, the devolved governments will receive £1.07bn in resource funding and £625m in capital funding across the SR25 period.

Barnett formula | Institute for Government The Barnett formula is used by the UK Treasury to calculate the annual block grants for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments.

3/ The Barnett formula determines the funding allocated to the devolved governments when the UK government changes England-only spending in devolved areas like health and education.

For more on how this works see our explainer: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...

2/ The devolved governments will receive an additional £1.7bn in Barnett consequentials as the result of the chancellor's spending decisions.

LIVE BLOG | Autumn budget 2025: Rachel Reeves announces tax and spend measures | Institute for Government IfG experts analyse Reeves' budget and explore what the chancellor's plans for the economy, tax and spending mean.

Although the main focus of yesterday's budget was on tax and welfare changes, most of which apply UK-wide, there were some specific spending announcements that have implications for the devolved nations, both through Barnett and direct investment.⬇️

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

LIVE BLOG | Autumn budget 2025: Rachel Reeves prepares to announce tax measures | Institute for Government IfG experts analyse Reeves' budget and explore what the chancellor's plans for the economy, tax and spending mean.

LIVE BLOG | Autumn budget 2025 🚨

As Rachel Reeves prepares to announce tax measures, what formal announcements have we had so far and what can we expect in the next 24 hours?

Follow our live blog for our analysis of the chancellor's plans
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...

Combined epidemiological and economic modelling | Institute for Government The pandemic showed the need for government to improve its use of modelling.

As the covid inquiry gears up for Module 9 on economic policy, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and I have a new @ukri.org-funded @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report out on Epi-econ modelling for pandemics. We set out why govt needs to invest now 1/🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Scottish parliament | Institute for Government The Scottish parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh is the devolved legislature of Scotland.

5/ Read more about the Scottish parliament's powers, how the Scottish government operates, and what government formation may look like after the 2026 election here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/sc...

4/ Voters will be heading to the ballot box on 7 May 2026 to decide who controls the Scottish parliament's wide range of devolved powers including over health and social care, education, housing, justice, the environment and some elements of economic and tax policy.

A line chart showing 5-poll averages for constituency voting intention for the Scottish parliament. Polls suggest the SNP's constituency vote share has decreased since early 2022, from approximately 48% to 35% in October 2025. Labour's support has decreased since the 2024 general election, and Reform's has risen.

A line chart showing 5-poll averages for regional voting intention for the Scottish parliament. The SNP have had a decline in support since early 2022, from approximately 40% to 30% in October 2025. Labour's support has decreased since the 2024 general election, and Reform's has risen.

3/ With Scotland just six months away from May’s crucial parliamentary election, we'll also look towards 2026, which looks set to be one of the most unpredictable campaigns since the SNP entered government almost 19 years ago.

2/ Join us in-person and online as the First Minister discusses his priorities ahead of the 2026 Scottish parliament election, the political context in Scotland ahead of the crucial UK budget, and the SNP’s vision for Scotland’s constitutional future.

In conversation with John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland | Institute for Government John Swinney joins us to discuss his priorities as First Minister, and the SNP’s vision ahead of the 2026 Scottish parliament election.

1/ Tomorrow, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk will be joined by First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, to reflect on his first 18 months in office and discuss Scotland's political and constitutional future.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/john-s...

Performance Tracker 2025: Criminal justice system | Institute for Government The government must act to avoid the justice system returning to the crisis point seen when Labour entered office, or worse.

Really pleased to have contributed to the new criminal justice section of Performance Tracker 2025, now live on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s website. It brings together new analysis on police, criminal courts and prisons. Some thoughts below. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Welsh elections 2026: Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament) | Institute for Government The Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament) in Cardiff is the devolved legislature of Wales.

7/ Looking ahead to May 2026, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK leading the polls – and a new proportional system in play – questions about who governs, Wales’ relationship with Westminster, and its constitutional future are set to dominate.

Read more: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/se...

An Institute for Government chart showing Senedd voting intention from June 2024 to September 2025, with a decline in Labour’s vote from 30% to less than 15%, and an increase for both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK to approximately 30% of the vote.

6/ The new system proportional system is more representative but makes a single-party majority in the Senedd less likely. With Plaid Cymru and Reform UK neck-and-neck in the polls, and Plaid ruling out any deal with Reform, forming a government next May could be anything but straightforward.

5/ And the Caerphilly by-election may well be the last in Wales. There’ll be no by-elections under the new system – seat vacancies will be filled by the next candidate on the party list or be left empty until the next Senedd election.

4/ The ballot paper features parties, rather than candidate names, which could sideline well-known MSs who’ve built strong local reputations. Without their names on the paper, personal brands may count for less and tilt the playing field toward parties dominating the national debate.

3/ Under the closed list system, votes are cast for a political party rather than an individual (unless there is an independent candidate). With the order of candidates on the list determined by parties, local candidates are competing internally for the coveted top spots.

An Institute for Government map showing the new Senedd constituencies from 2026 with 16 large multi-member constituencies

An Institute for Government map showing the 2021 Senedd constituency and region boundaries

2/ So, what are the key changes?

Wales is moving from the additional member system to a closed list proportional representation system

The size of the Senedd increases from 60 to 96 MSs

The number of constituencies decreases from 40 to 16, with each constituency electing 6 MSs

No by-elections

Although all eyes are on the Caerphilly by-election tomorrow, the real shift is coming in May with the reform of the Senedd electoral system transforming how Wales votes — and possibly who holds power.

What’s changing and why does it matter? 🧵

@instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Welsh elections 2026: Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament) | Institute for Government The Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament) in Cardiff is the devolved legislature of Wales.

7/ Looking ahead to May 2026, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK leading the polls – and a new proportional system in play – questions about who governs, Wales’ relationship with Westminster, and its constitutional future are set to dominate.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/se...

An Institute for Government chart showing Senedd voting intention from June 2024 to September 2025, with a decline in Labour’s vote from 30% to less than 15%, and an increase for both Plaid Cymru and Reform UK to approximately 30% of the vote.

6/ The new system proportional system is more representative but makes a single-party majority in the Senedd less likely. With Plaid Cymru and Reform UK neck-and-neck in the polls, and Plaid ruling out any deal with Reform, forming a government next May could be anything but straightforward.

New report from @matthewfright.bsky.social exploring the challenges and opportunities for district councils and local public services during the next wave of local government reorganisation.

Join us tonight at 17:30 for the launch event with a panel of LGR experts.