Teodor Grama

Reform-led Worcestershire County Council (WCC) have published a briefing about their financial position, explaining why they might have to raise council tax by 10%

It's a pretty perfect encapsulation of the extreme financial pressures facing most local authorities

Key points 👇

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.

NEW REPORT Criminal justice is coming apart at the seams. Police, criminal courts & prisons can’t cope with the level of demand and performance keeps spiralling downwards. Early positive steps from the government won't be enough to turn things around
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

A welcome clarification on the rules ‘gagging’ civil servants | Institute for Government New guidance on civil servants speaking in public is a welcome return to common sense.

Some - cautious - good news on the govt’s civil service gagging rules

Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility”

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...

An image ad for an Institute for Government event. Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government? Monday 03 November 2025, 12:30 — 13:30 (GMT) Speakers Atul Devani, Civil Service Commissioner and entrepreneur John-Paul Marks CB, First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs Baroness Gisela Stuart, First Civil Service Commissioner

EVENT | Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government?

📅 Monday 3 November, 12:30-13:30

With Atul Devani, John-Paul Marks CB, Baroness Gisela Stuart and @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/leader...

Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 | Institute for Government Labour’s public service plans are less than the sum of their parts.

4 patterns we're seeing in adult social care, children's social care and homelessness services (with graphs)

And what govt should do about it

A thread from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's NEW jumbo report (read 1 get 3 free) on the state of local government services and finance 👇

Performance Tracker 2025: Local government overview | Institute for Government The government is making good progress towards rebalancing local government funding. But the sector shows signs of mounting financial distress.

NEW REPORT: Local authorities have been struggling with pressures from austeirty for years, but there are signs that pressure is now particularly acute

As a result, they are having to make tough decisions about finances and services

🧵👇 on findings

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

Immigration and asylum: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Reform and Green positions | Institute for Government What have the different political parties announced on immigration and asylum in the run up to – and during – the 2025 autumn conference season?

PSA: We have a new (and long) @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer out on the immigration and asylum policies of the major parties (of England...) following a flurry of announcements all year and around conference season, in particular.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/im...

Really interesting read from Schools Week on pooling high-needs budgets at the level of multiple schools, rather than having it tied to pupils and EHCPs.

Very brief 🧵👇

Civil service fast stream | Institute for Government One of several ways into the civil service, the fast stream is the government’s flagship talent development programme.

The Civil Service Fast Stream applications open today!
@teodorgrama.bsky.social has updated our explainer on the government’s flagship talent development programme:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ci...

Mel Stride’s civil service savings are more signal than substance | Institute for Government Setting a civil service headcount target is too simplistic.

NEW: Mel Stride’s civil service savings are more signal than substance

@alexgathomas.bsky.social & @jackworlidge.bsky.social give the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk verdict on Mel Stride's civil service savings

(& yes, it's a fantasy numbers game)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mel-...

How to reform the civil service fast stream | Institute for Government It is time to update the civil service's flagship recruitment programme.

So recruitment is going very well. The civil service should ensure things go just as well after graduates join the scheme. We set out how it can do that most effectively in our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report earlier this month. Read it here:

A line chart from the Institute for Government showing fast stream registrations and applications, 1999-2025, where both peaked in 2025, recovering from a post-pandemic slump.

It's hard to overstate how remarkable the turnaround has been in fast stream application numbers. A lot of it may be bound up with wider graduate job market dynamics - but choices by fast stream management (incl. on pay) definitely played a role.

Booming interest in the Fast Stream is good news – and a major opportunity Growing levels of interest in the programme from talented graduates could, through well-targeted reforms, be leveraged to deliver substantial retur...

Between record application numbers and topping the THE graduate employer ranking, recent weeks have brought a lot of excellent news for the fast stream.

There is a major opportunity here for the civil service to grasp. Here's how.

Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social:

How to reform the civil service fast stream | Institute for Government It is time to update the civil service's flagship recruitment programme.

All of this (and more!) was covered at greater length in our report from earlier this month. Read it here:

There is also a challenge in tumbling success rates – the civil service may lose out on many talented graduates because they are nudged towards a highly selective scheme. The fast stream's brand shouldn't overpower other talent pipelines into the CS, but sometimes it does.

There are many great things about the fast stream. But our research revealed that a number of challenges persist – e.g. on posting quality, early exits and progression upon programme completion. There is still more that can be done to ensure the scheme delivers for the civil service.

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.

How Keir Starmer’s government can be built for delivery | Institute for Government The prime minister can learn from the past to make a success of “phase two” of his government.

Special Delivery! @emma-conway.bsky.social and I have been thinking about how Keir Starmer and co (especially Darren Jones) can make a success of 'phase two' - which is all about delivering on the government's priorities. Read more here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/star...

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

Procurement is massively underrated as an opportunity for improvement, and where a mission-led approach could make a difference.
Our NEW REPORT explores why this change is hard, and how procurement should be used to shape markets + drive innovation🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Civil service staff numbers | Institute for Government Who exactly are civil servants and how many are there?

1/ If you've been itching to know how the size of the civil service has changed... we at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have you covered.

I've crunched the numbers from the latest ONS data release, which you can read about here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ci...

How to reform the civil service fast stream | Institute for Government It is time to update the civil service's flagship recruitment programme.

There is much to be celebrated about the fast stream. But it's still held back by early departures, variable quality of postings, poor pay - and a lack of clarity around what the scheme is ultimately 'for'.

Read our report on what's (not) working and how the fast stream can be reformed here:

Civil Service Fast Stream named UK's top graduate employer Fast Stream programme climbs to top of league table based on survey of over 15,000 graduates across UK universities.

The fast stream consistently ranks (near) the top of graduate employer rankings - and this year it's taken the top spot (again!).

But while graduates find the scheme very attractive, exclusive @instituteforgovernment.org.uk research shows their expectations aren't always met once on the scheme.

1/ My latest for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is on the proposed “democratic lock” over the Sentencing Council. I argue that David Lammy, as new justice secretary, should overturn his predecessor's decision that all guidelines the Council issues should be subject to ministerial approval.

Expanding the payroll vote is no substitute for good party management | Institute for Government Keir Starmer's government has the joint highest number of PPSs.

Although PPSs play an important part in maintaining links between ministers and the wider parliamentary party, expanding the payroll vote is no substitute for good party management, says @timdurrant.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/expa...

Seven things we learned from Keir Starmer’s first reshuffle | Institute for Government What does the prime minster’s first major reshuffle tell us about his new-look government?

Here's the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk 'seven things we learned from Keir Starmer's reshuffle' from @jackpannell.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social and I with data from @philipnye.bsky.social & our now updated Ministers Database

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/seve...

Over on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk live blog we're posting our 'cabinet flashcards' - key info on who's who in Starmer's reshuffled cabinet.

Helping you prepare for - presumably - the hottest round at every pub quiz this week (if your local one hasn't been cancelled due to tube strikes...)

Latest chart from the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk live blog showing the government line up post weekend reshuffle - lots of new people in new roles

Keep an eye on the blog as we take a look at the new intake and what's in their inbox

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 onto Lammy! Hopefully he'll feel the title of deputy PM makes up for being handed one of the trickiest portfolios in politics at the moment.

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.

As the second reshuffle of the week kicks off, we have launched our liveblog. We will be covering all the ins and outs as well as top analysis from our IfG experts.

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