Rosa Hodgkin

A job advert for research internships 2025-26 at the IfG. Six one-year, full-time internships starting in September 2025. Salary: £30,000 Deadline: Tuesday 2 April, 11:00

Interested in making government more effective? Applications for our 2025–26 research internship programme, starting in September 2025, are now open.

Closing date: Tuesday 29 April, 11:00 ⏰

Find out more:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Pothole politics risks undermining MHCLG’s efforts to simplify funding | Institute for Government Keir Starmer's plan to fix potholes risks creating more problems.

Decided to write out my thoughts on this for @instituteforgov.bsky.social on why tightly ringenced funding with onerous reporting requirements for ministerial pet projects is a drain on local and central government and can drive the wrong incentives
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/poth...

Policy making for left-behind groups: School readiness | Institute for Government How can government start closing the opportunity gap in early years education?

NEW report from me and @nehaldavison.bsky.social on school readiness:

- Who is most at risk of not being school ready?
- What does this mean for the govt's opportunities mission? Is the target for 75% of children to be 'school ready' helpful?

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

My latest for @instituteforgov.bsky.social makes the case for chancellor Rachel Reeves to do nothing at the Spring Statement, even if she is on course to miss her fiscal rules by a small margin.

1/3

I'd love to see Rachel Reeves launch a fundamental review of the tax system - to make it more efficient/fairer/growth enhancing and just decide that she might as well use her economics background to deliver a legacy of real improvement - even if it doesn't poll well straight away.

A very big week for @instituteforgov.bsky.social and our Inside Briefing pod. We’re recording in Hull now and our instalment featuring the PM will land in your podcast feeds tonight.

Line chart from the Institute for Government of government funding of arm's-length bodies by category, 2013/23-2022/23 (in 2024/25 prices), where funding of NDPBs has increased over the time period but funding of executive agencies and non-ministerial departments has stayed almost flat.

In light of today's announcement - this chart gives some context on how NHS England accounts for almost half of government's total spending on ALBs, and how increases to its budget have been the main driver for the overall increase in funding for ALBs in recent years.

For some context on the relative sizes of NHSE and DHSC, this chart is helpful

Bit out of date, but NHSE is a very large organisation ~17.5k in May 2023 and has shrunk since then. Will be interesting to see how many of those staff come into the department

There's a decent case for scrapping NHS England but doing so is a major change programme that will take up substantial ministerial and official time. Hard to see how govt can do this while also making good progress on meeting the 18 week target AND the three shifts ahead of the next election

The PM’s speech this morning didn’t have much detail on system-wide civil service reform – despite some welcome pitch rolling by McFadden over the weekend. But for what it’s worth, here’s my initial take on what was in there on civil service reform

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What is regulation? | Institute for Government Who regulates, how do they regulate, and how is regulation scrutinised?

The prime minister is expected to announce plans to cut back regulation.

Our explainer takes a closer look at what regulation actually is, how it is used and carried out, and what are the alternatives to regulation www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/re...

For the first time, half of all ministers are women and more women now attend cabinet than ever before –

To celebrate international women’s day we've taken a deep dive into the @instituteforgov.bsky.social Ministers Reflect archive to share some insights from women who served in government ...

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Anneliese Dodds' resignation shows how hard it will be to cut the aid budget | Institute for Government Keir Starmer’s defence spending decisions leaves Foreign Office leaders facing tough choices about the international aid budget.

Starmer's cut to the aid budget means a really tough set of choices ahead for foreign office ministers - they will need to be very clear on what they're cutting (and not fudge the trade-offs)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/anne...

The government needs to ensure there is a proper debate on the seventh carbon budget | Institute for Government The seventh carbon budget will not just be nodded through by parliament.

There will be more debate this time on the 7th Carbon Budget recommendations from @thecccuk.bsky.social . @rosahodgkin.bsky.social and I think that's a good thing @instituteforgov.bsky.social - www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/seve...

Independent Sentencing Review: History and trends in sentencing The Independent Sentencing Review, chaired by David Gauke, has published Part 1 of the report.

Interim report out today from the Sentencing Review is bang on – not often you get the chance to say that!

Prison population has risen because of "inconsistent, ill-considered and knee jerk sentencing reform implemented by successive governments". www.gov.uk/government/p...

New civil service performance management rules are about more than saving money | Institute for Government The government is starting to take basic performance management seriously.

My first piece for @instituteforgov.bsky.social - it's still far too hard for civil servants to tackle poor performance, but a new framework changes the incentives (a little) in favour of better people management, and that is a good thing.

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

Among many interesting facts...

Had no idea that the UK govt puts more money into business support than comparators but unusually almost all through tax - 2.3% of GDP (£62bn) on industrial support through the tax system in 2023 according to the OECD

Really interesting piece from @gemmatetlow.bsky.social

Tax reliefs sound boring but are really important - became mildly obsessed with this while looking at the tax system and net zero a couple of years ago (where reliefs are part of what makes the system very incoherent)

The government’s welcome planning reforms alone won’t deliver Starmer’s ‘building boom’ | Institute for Government The government's planning reforms are bold and ambitious.

The government is clearly keen to show that it is determined to push ahead with building despite potential opposition

But clarity on community benefits might help to introduce a slightly more collaborative tone with communities affected by this and other kinds of new infrastructure.

How can the government accelerate its clean power mission? | Institute for Government An expert panel discussed the potential pitfalls to achieving Labour's clean power commitments.

If new areas do see nuclear infrastructure the PM implied that new community benefits (possibly lower energy bills) might be available to communities nearby

(we talked to @chrisstark.bsky.social about when we might hear more on this at our event on Tuesday - watch back below)

The government should not be criticised for commissioning policy reviews | Institute for Government Whether there are 67 reviews underway or not, the key is to learn from how past reviews worked.

It is obviously a complex issue with critical safety considerations.

The number of taskforces/reviews set up by the govt has been criticised but delivering thought through reforms can help build consensus and public confidence as long as the new nuclear taskforce is focused and clear on its aims.

Hinkley C: UK nuclear plant price tag could rocket by a third EDF says final costs could soar by about a third as it faces a delayed completion date.

Regulators reportedly required 7000 changes to the design of Hinkley Point C meaning significantly more concrete and steel than the versions of the same reactor being built in Finland and France

In this context reform makes sense.

Recent attempts to build new nuclear power stations in the UK have taken longer and cost more than in other countries and our regulatory system is part of that.

Clean power by 2030 | Institute for Government How Keir Starmer can knock down the 10 biggest barriers to Labour's 2030 clean power plan.

Nuclear is an important part of the government's 2030 clean power and 2050 net zero plans - providing baseload power to support variable renewables (although SMRs are not yet commercially proven)

And most of the UK's current nuclear power stations are reaching the end of their lifespans

Government rips up rules to fire-up nuclear power More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales as the Prime Minister slashes red tape to get Britain building - as part of his Plan for Change.

Continuing the government's recent roll on planning announcements today we have one on nuclear☢️

Definitely not nuclear experts so apologies for any errors but some thoughts on the govt side…

National Energy System Operator (NESO) | Institute for Government NESO is the public body responsible for Great Britain’s energy system.

Following a great IfG event yesterday on the government's clean power targets, a new explainer by me on the role of the National Energy System Operator (NESO)⚡ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/na...

Still time to sign up to watch this event online - starting in 20 mins and should be very interesting for all civil service types (and everyone, of course)

We @instituteforgov.bsky.social are doing a new project looking at how to help officials make better policy under pressure 💨

If you have experience of fast policymaking please give our survey a look and share your insights! Should take a maximum of 10mins to fill out

TOMORROW: How can the government accelerate its clean power mission?

Don't miss our event exploring Labour's progress on decarbonising power by 2030 and the potential pitfalls.

@rosahodgkin.bsky.social @chrisstark.bsky.social @dharavyas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

Can a new Heathrow runway meet both the government’s growth and climate goals? | Institute for Government Transparency is vital if the government is to make the case for a new Heathrow runway.

Can a new Heathrow runway meet both the government’s growth and climate goals?

Transparency is vital if the government is to make the case for it, say @tompope.bsky.social and @rosahodgkin.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/new-...