Cath Haddon

Rachel Reeves’s budget 2025: The IfG’s six things to look out for | Institute for Government What can we expect from the chancellor’s second budget?

Will the government change its fiscal strategy?

What is the tax strategy?

What will we learn about the plans for public services?

The IfG public finances team set out the key questions they will be looking for in the 2025 budget.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II | Institute for Government What does the report tell us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic?

Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II

Our IfG experts unpack what the inquiry's report tells us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...

What are the legal implications of Labour’s new asylum reforms? | Institute for Government Some of the government’s proposals are thin on details, others are likely to be tested in the courts.

What are the legal implications of Labour’s new asylum reforms?

Former permanent secretary of the Government Legal Department @sirjjkc.bsky.social examines some of the main legal implications of the proposals www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/lega...

How can the Fast Stream get better? Ex-Fast Stream boss and other experts discuss how the programme can be improved and efforts that are already under way

Excellent write-up from @tevyemarkson.bsky.social at @civilserviceworld.bsky.social on our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event earlier this week on the fast stream and how it can deliver more for the civil service.

Watch the full event here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/civil-...

Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II | Institute for Government What does the report tell us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic?

New comment: Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II - from myself and other @instituteforgovernment.org.uk colleagues

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...

YouTube video by Institute for Government The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making?

We're live with our rapid response webinar on the second module report of the UK Covid Inquiry

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-RM...

There needs to be a rapid review on coronavirus as part of a full public inquiry | Institute for Government A rapid review into the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis is also essential to be better prepared for a second wave

The Covid Inquiry report has argued that government should have learnt lessons in mid-2020 to prepare for the second wave www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ther...

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/...

The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance? | Institute for Government Join our IfG experts webinar to unpack the Covid Inquiry's findings and explore their implications for future governance.

This afternoon my colleagues at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk will be discussing the second covid inquiry report. Join us online at lunchtime & bring your questions - see you there!

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

An image for an IfG event: The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance? Friday 21 November 2025, 12:30 — 13:30 (GMT) Tim Durrant, Programme Director for the IfG Ministers work programme Akash Paun, Programme Director for the IfG Devolution work programme Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the IfG Civil Service work programme The webinar will be chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

TOMORROW | The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance?

Join us at 12:30 as @timdurrant.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social unpack the inquiry's findings
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/covid-...

"I'm certain the final beckons." ⚽🏆

@johnswinney.bsky.social dropped by the podcast studio today to discuss the political context in Scotland ahead of the UK budget, the SNP’s vision for Scotland’s future – and of course, the football.

Look out for the full episode in your podcast feed soon 🎧

Starting in half an hour!

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

You can read more about @teodorgrama.bsky.social research into fast stream here

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

But despite the onboarding challenges (there were few a smh in room), Rachel reminds us that fast stream is highly rated in private sector as a graduate scheme. Other employers want fast streamers.

Now discussing how to retain fast streamers to G7. Especially given pay and cost of living in london

Rachel Hopcroft says she hopes one of the things the civil service has got better at since her days … is onboarding. Says KPMG looks to inform graduate candidates within 48 hours of assessment and undertakes swift onboarding.

I hate to break it to you Rachel…

Keir Starmer’s government: Traitors or Faithfuls? | Institute for Government The IfG podcast team explore what the anonymous briefings to the media against cabinet ministers tell us about how No.10 is working.

PODCAST 🎙️ Keir Starmer’s government: Traitors or Faithfuls?

What do the media briefings against Wes Streeting say about how No.10 is working – or not?

@cathhaddon.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social discuss www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Graphic from the Smart Thinking Awards, reading 'We have nominated Cassia Rowland for Researcher of the year'. Supported by Lloyds banking group with the Lloyds logo is in the top right corner and the Institute for Government logo is in the bottom right corner

Delighted to be the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk nominee for Researcher of the Year at the @smartthinking.bsky.social think tank awards! Looking forward to entertaining all my fellow nominees with tales of public service performance at the award ceremony in November.

A table from the Institute for Government showing civil service fast stream success rates by demographic characteristics, 2025, where the success rate for all applicants is 1.0% but varies significantly depending on demographics, ranging from 4.7% for Oxbridge applicants to 0.4% for non-Russell Group applicants.

The fast stream saw record application volumes in the last recruitment cycle. But different categories of applicants had different odds of getting on the scheme - with success rates for non-Russell Group candidates several times lower than those for Oxbridge applicants (0.4% to 4.7%).

Also thanks, started my Saturday explaining what OG means to my mum.

Child/ God theory. Not sure Kings have the same deference for the metaphor.

But yes, as Alex says it’s normally used to help ministers understand the distancing/ frustrating effect both aspects can have in their relationship with CS.

It’s also part of how system stops seeing them as people.

The Prisons Crisis Strikes Back | Institute for Government Former BBC journalist and Labour adviser Danny Shaw joins the podcast team to discuss the state of the criminal justice system.

🎧NEW @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast

- Royal trouble
- Inquiry woe
- Prisons crisis

@dannyshaw.bsky.social joins @cathhaddon.bsky.social @cassiarowland.bsky.social & @alexgathomas.bsky.social to make sense of it all

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/pris...

Extract from Times story “Senior advisers in Downing Street are sympathetic to that critique, but have found their room for manoeuvre constrained by an "unwritten rule", which dictates that cabinet secretaries cannot be dismissed until they have spent a year in the post.”

Not good all round. But where *on earth* did this come from? Just made up

Am now imagining the voting system if perm secs got to whittle it down to two candidates before that was sent to the wider civil service membership

Do i need to write an explainer stating that replacing a Cabinet Secretary is *not* initiated by the classic sending in letters of no confidence??

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

NEW: @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have published pt1 of Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 covering local government finances and overall performance, adult social care, children's social care and homelessness

Incredible work by @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @amberdellar.bsky.social

Lessons in Kemistry | Institute for Government YouGov's Patrick English joined the Inside Briefing team in Manchester to assess the state of the official opposition.

🎧NEW: Lessons in Kemistry..

Brilliant Conservative Party conference (& stamp duty) analysis on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast

@drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social
and Patrick English of @yougov.co.uk

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

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-...

Does Mallorca have merch that can be used to compensate me?

I might forgive you if it turns out my tote bag went to Mallorca.

🎧🎧Listen now!

Brilliant analysis of Starmer’s speech and the Labour conference with @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social and guest @sophiestowers.bsky.social of @moreincommonuk.bsky.social

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