Tim Durrant

Box 1: Key decisions by parliamentarians The Houses agreed there was a need to do an R&R Programme in: • 2012 when the House of Commons Commission and the House of Lords House Committee published a pre-feasibility study on restoration and renewal and concluded that “doing nothing is not an option” and that a decision on the long-term future of the Palace of Westminster needed to be made soon; • the 2016 Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster report, which concluded in its report that there is “… a clear and pressing need to tackle the work required to the Palace of Westminster”;23 • 2018 during debates on the report from the Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster, the Houses supported full decant as a preferred delivery option;24 • 2019 when the Houses passed the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019; • 2022 when the Houses agreed a new mandate for the Programme; and • 2024, when the Client Board published its Strategic Case for the Programme.25

This is bleakly comic: six times when Parliament has agreed the need for a major programme of works to the Palace of Westminster, and yet we'll need another vote in 2026 and then a further vote in mid 2030.

The Peter Mandelson case shows the House of Lords needs an independent disciplinary system | Institute for Government The Lords should catch up with the Commons on disciplinary procedures.

The House of Lords should catch up with the Commons on disciplinary procedures.

But legislation to remove peerages must be tightly drawn. Getting it right is more important than passing it urgently, says @drhannahwhite.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pete...

A graphic showing information about the event - also available at: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/working-in-the-think-tank-sector-2026/

Interested in working in think tanks? Join @instituteforgovernment.org.uk and a group of other think tanks for an event about what working in the sector is like:

www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/worki...

Learning from the DevoLab #3: How devolution can improve transport connectivity | Institute for Government Three case studies of how devolved powers and mayoral influence have been used to improve transport connectivity.

NEW | How devolution can improve transport connectivity

Our latest DevoLab briefing sets out three case studies showing how mayoral strategic authorities are ideally placed to help tackle England’s transport challenges www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The absence of government modelling to justify curtailing the right to trial by jury has allowed opponents to make all the running — and that may yet precipitate another Labour U-turn. It has also exposed a lack of good data to monitor one specific problem that is contributing to trial delays every day.

Great FT piece citing @cassiarowland.bsky.social’s analysis which shows gov plans to radically reduce jury trials save relatively little court capacity. The should focus on court productivity instead

Also makes important point that MoJ data is poor. Needs to be fixed asap

ep.ft.com/permalink/em...

A new national police force is the right move, but the case for merging local forces is much weaker | Institute for Government There is much to welcome in the home secretary’s proposals on police reform.

My take on the government's plan for police reform: a welcome attempt at ambitious, long-term change – but one that risks making police leadership and accountability too remote from local areas 🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/poli...

A new national police force is the right move, but the case for merging local forces is much weaker | Institute for Government There is much to welcome in the home secretary’s proposals on police reform.

A new national police force is the right move, but the case for merging local forces is much weaker

@cassiarowland.bsky.social gives her verdict on the home secretary's proposals on police reform www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/poli...

Fantastic new report from @gilesyb.bsky.social, great to have @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social on board as partners for this work.

Do take a look at Giles' comment piece here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/grow...

Government taskforces are not a long-term solution for the problems facing the state | Institute for Government Darren Jones needs a plan for long-term reforms, as well as short-term delivery.

Government taskforces are not a long-term solution for the problems facing the state

Darren Jones needs a plan for long-term reforms, as well as short-term delivery, says @hannahkeenan.bsky.social

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

What can the aid watchdog tell us about spending public money well? | Institute for Government Too often the discussion about public spending is about how much is spent, not whether it is spent usefully.

With the news that the government is considering scrapping the Independent Commission on Aid Impact, worth checking out our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event from a few years ago on what the watchdog does:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/online...

Me: Absolutely ridiculous that this is how we handle MPs resigning in 2026

Also me: Explaining these weird quirks of parliament keeps me in a job

Today, in her keynote speech at the Institute for Government, the FM set out her vision for the future of devolution in Wales, including some of the IfG's favourite topics: the Barnett formula and intergovernmental relations.

🧵below on some of the key points and where you can find out more.

We were delighted to be joined by @prifweinidog.gov.wales at the IfG yesterday.

With @akashpaun.bsky.social she discussed her priorities as FM, relations with Westminster, 2026 Senedd election and the future of devolution.

Listen to her speech:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/conver...

PODCAST 🎙️ "It felt like Groundhog Day, reading a lot of things that [Darren Jones] is proposing. A lot of it could have been me 10 years ago."

Lord Maude joins us to discuss the latest government reform plans.

🎧 Listen to the full Inside Briefing www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Government taskforces are not a long-term solution for the problems facing the state | Institute for Government Darren Jones needs a plan for long-term reforms, as well as short-term delivery.

Government taskforces are not a long-term solution for the problems facing the state

Darren Jones needs a plan for long-term reforms, as well as short-term delivery www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

Really important piece from @amberdellar.bsky.social on the problems with relying on legal rights in a broken system. It's particularly bad in the SEND system, but there are lessons here for lots of the public sector

This was a really fascinating set of discussions - lots to reflect on and take forward! Well done to Paolo and Rupa, and thanks to everyone who spoke, asked questions and shared thoughts - a great afternoon

Starting now - Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales is talking at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. follow the link below to livestream.

TODAY | In conversation with Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales

We are pleased to have @prifweinidog.gov.wales at the IfG to discuss her priorities as FM, relations with Westminster, the 2026 Senedd election and the future of devolution.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/conver...

Trial and error?: The impact of restricting jury trials on court demand | Institute for Government The government’s reforms will unlock only relatively modest reductions in demand.

NEW REPORT: the gov’s proposals for judge-only trials will deliver only marginal savings and distract from the real route out of this crisis: reversing recent falls in court productivity.

I spoke at the House of Lords Justice & Home Affairs Committee yesterday, on behalf of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, on immigration, citizenship and integration. Thanks to @jlowen.bsky.social, @cassiarowland.bsky.social and @hcdunlop.bsky.social for help on prep!
Session here: tinyurl.com/372h6jdk

The brilliant @hannahkeenan.bsky.social asks about how Jones and PM will hold cab sec and perm secs to account

Jones - a lot is on me. My job is to make clear across govt that will keep coming back to things. Criticism is of politicians who don’t prioritise

In west London for @darrenpjones.bsky.social speech on reforming government

An audience of politicians, the media, think tankers and the like. As far as I can see no cabinet secretary or perm secs… not a great signal for what comes next

Hannah White from IfG introducing Darren Jones’s speech

Darren Jones giving a speech on government reform

our event with Darren Jones, Chief Sec to the PM, is getting underway now - watch along on our website:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/modern...

After a good start, Darren Jones needs to set out his plan for radical state reform | Institute for Government New plans must be bold enough to meaningfully shift the dial on an intransigent state.

And ahead of that, take a look at the key things @hannahkeenan.bsky.social and I think he needs to be clear on:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/darr...

Move fast and fix things: Modernising Whitehall to deliver for Britain | Institute for Government Keynote speech from Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Darren Jones MP.

In a couple of hours we'll be hearing from Darren Jones about his plans to 'move fast and fix things' in government - you can watch it here:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/modern...

Whitehall Monitor 2026 | Institute for Government Labour’s efforts to ‘rewire the state’ aren’t addressing longstanding workforce problems.

Darren Jones is giving a speech tomorrow on "rewiring the state". This language has been around all of 2025 and doesn't look like it's disappearing in 2026 - but it is miles too vague and changeable to actually reform the state (see our new report out last week). Will Jones do any better tomorrow?

Four UQs in the Commons can be a good sign of parliamentary scrutiny but don't tend to be a sign that things in the world are "good"

📸Snapshots | Rewiring the state: Is the government making any progress?

We are thankful to @andyburnham.bsky.social, Micheal Gove, @hannahkeenan.bsky.social, Rowena Mason @theguardian.com, @alexgathomas.bsky.social for their insights on the government's attempts to reform the civil service.

Timely event with @ukandeu.bsky.social tomorrow evening....