Pritesh Mistry

On our International Women's Day special podcast, Karen Bradley, @elliechowns.bsky.social and @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social reveal the inside story of life as an MP in parliament.

Listen to the full episode 👇🏼 #IWD2026

The Standards Committee proposal to redact the names of MPs' staff on the register is back in the news

An unsatisfactory result for transparency especially as it isn't being accompanied by anything else e.g. a full list of all job titles that all MPs employ

But it's a difficult balance...

International Women's Day special: The inside story of life as an MP Podcast Episode · Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · 6 March · 34m

Huge thanks to @elliechowns.bsky.social @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social and Karen Bradley MP for joining me for #IWD2026.

Got into quite the debate about what the constituency inbox teaches you about problems facing our public services and frustrations that causes

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

Since the government reshuffle in Sept25, the representation of women among cabinet ministers has dropped slightly from 48% to 44% - but remains higher than under any previous prime minister.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, here's some insights from our interviews with women who served in govt

As part of our series with devolved party leaders, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is pleased to be hosting Reform UK leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, for an online-only conversation on Monday 16/3.

Sign up: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/lord-m...

And let me know what I should ask him!

This was a fascinating discussion with Alex Younger…

How can the government join up the delivery of its SEND reforms? | Institute for Government Clearer accountability and better-aligned incentives will help the government’s SEND reforms achieve their aims.

To effectively join up the delivery of its SEND reforms, the government must strengthen accountability mechanisms and align incentives more closely, says @amberdellar.bsky.social

Read our comment to find out more:

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

Women in Westminster Women in Westminster

Fantastic to see both of the brilliant @emmanorris.bsky.social and @gemmatetlow.bsky.social recognised in this year's Women in Westminster top 100.

Both are incredibly impressive colleagues and I've learnt so much from them. www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...

The real lesson to take from Gorton and Denton is for the future of UK democracy | Institute for Government Westminster is dangerously underprepared for a multi-party future.

Westminster is dangerously underprepared for a multi-party future.

Responsible and farsighted leadership would mean recognising the Gorton and Denton by-election as a warning, says @drhannahwhite.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gort...

Four things we learnt from Rachel Reeves’s spring forecast 2026 | Institute for Government The chancellor’s spring forecast was short and free of new policy content.

What did we learn from Rachel Reeves's 2026 spring forecast?

The chancellor’s spring forecast was short and free of new policy content. Our public finances team say this is a welcome approach, not least given the volatile backdrop to the statement www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

Will Rachel Reeves’s 2026 spring forecast be as low key as promised? | Institute for Government The government is right to approach 3 March as a fiscal ‘non-event’.

Five reasons why today's Spring Forecast should not be a fiscal event, building on what my IfG colleagues wrote last week
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

How can the government join up the delivery of its SEND reforms? | Institute for Government Clearer accountability and better-aligned incentives will help the government’s SEND reforms achieve their aims.

How can the government join up the delivery of its SEND reforms?

Clearer accountability and better-aligned incentives will help the government’s SEND reforms achieve their aims, says
@amberdellar.bsky.social

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

Establishing independent commissioners is much more than a tick-box exercise | Institute for Government Governments must recognise that independent commissioners need long-term commitment.

Government failure to recognise the long-term commitment that comes with establishing independent commissioners makes it harder for commissioners to succeed.

Read our comment by @meganbryer.bsky.social and @hcdunlop.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/esta...

Today we hosted @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social, leader of @plaidcymru.bsky.social to discuss the 2026 Senedd election, his plan for government, and Plaid Cymru’s vision for the future of Wales.

You can watch or listen to the event here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...

Spring forecast 2026 | Institute for Government On Tuesday 3 March, the government will publish the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest set of economic and fiscal forecast.

Tomorrow the government will publish the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest set of economic and fiscal forecast.

Follow our explainers and analysis ahead of the spring forecast www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/spring-forec...

The real lesson to take from Gorton and Denton is for the future of UK democracy | Institute for Government Westminster is dangerously underprepared for a multi-party future.

Westminster is dangerously underprepared for a multi-party future

Responsible and farsighted leadership would mean recognising the Gorton and Denton by-election as a warning, says @drhannahwhite.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gort...

🚨 Results from the 2025 Civil Service People Survey have been published

Last year these showed deteriorating morale at the Office for National Statistics – especially around change management

The 2025 results show a slight further dip in overall morale - but bad results again on change mgmt (1/3)

Interesting piece and good to see Sunder reiterate his support for a migration plan, as devised by @instituteforgovernment.org.uk colleagues last year and which received the support of Sunder and directors from Onward, CPS, and IPPR in a letter to the Times. tinyurl.com/4hb8akr4

The civil service people survey results are out

DHSC has the largest drop in engagement (staff morale) among Whitehall departments, 6ppts from 63% to 57%

The dept also had a *13 ppt* drop for its leadership and managing change theme

Seems like NHS England abolition is causing serious discontent

Following the Plaid Cymru Spring conference, Rhun ap Iorwerth will be speaking at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on Monday 1230-1330. Details for in person and online sign up below. 👇

On our latest episode of Inside Briefing, we were joined by Rupert Harrison - former chief of staff to George Osborne - to discuss Rachel Reeves' spring forecast.

The forecast is expected to be a quiet event - will this be the case?

Listen here:

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

We're developing recommendations for central government to support better coordination in the SEND system.

Have a read of the comment if you'd like a taste of some of the issues we'll be thinking about, and if you have any thoughts please get in touch!

A line chart from the Institute for Government of civil servant engagement, 2010 to 2025, where engagement rises from just under 50% to a peak in 2020. It then falls slightly for three consecutive years before rising slightly again in 2024 and staying the same in 2025.

New data! Looks like civil servants were about as happy in 2025 as they were in 2024 (which I think is quite impressive given big exit schemes happening)

@instituteforgovernment.org.uk will be digging into the new civil service people survey scores to get under the skin of how CS are feeling...

Will Rachel Reeves spring a forecast surprise? | Institute for Government Rupert Harrison, former chief of staff to George Osborne, joins the Inside Briefing team to preview the chancellor's spring forecast.

PODCAST 🎙️ Will Rachel Reeves spring a forecast surprise?

Rupert Harrison, former chief of staff to George Osborne, joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social preview the chancellor's spring forecast www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

New comment piece from me and @hcdunlop.bsky.social on independent commissioners.

We say that govts fail to recognise the long-term commitment that comes with establishing commissioners. Commissioners need sufficient resources and ongoing engagement from govt to maintain credibility and succeed.

Establishing independent commissioners is much more than a tick-box exercise | Institute for Government Governments must recognise that independent commissioners need long-term commitment.

Establishing independent commissioners is much more than a tick-box exercise

Government failure to recognise the long-term commitment that comes with establishing independent commissioners makes it harder for commissioners to succeed www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/esta...

By-elections | Institute for Government How are by-elections triggered?

Today voters head to the polling stations for the Gorton and Denton by-election.

What triggers a by‑election, and how does the process work?

Our explainer sets out the rules, timings and what happens on polling day.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/by...

Will Rachel Reeves’s 2026 spring forecast be as low key as promised? | Institute for Government The government is right to approach 3 March as a fiscal ‘non-event’.

Last year the chancellor made waves with her spring statement. This year she says she wants to avoid creating headlines.

So will Rachel Reeves’s 2026 spring forecast be as low key as promised? Our public finances team explore www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

Reform’s ICE-style ‘deportation command’ would be costly ... Nigel Farage’s party is planning a ‘deportation command’ modelled on the US agency spearheading Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. How would it work?

Great to give @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's take on the feasability of Reform's immigration enforcement plans in an Observer article today, in the venerable company of Prof Alan Manning and Dr Madeleine Sumption.

You can read the article here: observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Govt’s proposed SEND reforms contain positive ideas to move the system towards early intervention.

But there are tensions the govt has not yet worked through between investing in these changes quickly and ensuring reforms are fully evidenced.