Ifg Events Podcast

Better use of data is key to more effective government. Across government, teams are doing fascinating work with data. But those projects don’t get the attention they deserve. At this event, the eighth in our series and first of 2020, our speakers presented their data projects in an exciting, quickfire format. Each set of speakers has eight minutes, followed by eight minutes of questions from the audience. If you're interested in our previous Data Bites events, all video and audio is available here In February we heard from: - Stan Gilmour, Head of Public Protection for Thames Valley Police, on the potential of combined data for early intervention and prevention - Marcus Bell, Director of the Cabinet Office Race Disparity Unit, on how data transparency can be a good way of tackling inequality - Anna Powell-Smith, Founder of Missing Numbers, on the data the government doesn't collect - Dr Stephen Lorimer, Head of Public Sector Data Policy at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, on improving th

The UK’s exit from the European Union has prompted many calls for the UK government to change the way it organises foreign policy, development aid, trade and security. Some argue that reform would help by giving a “single” foreign policy, would allocate money more in line with the UK’s interests – and would trim the number of ministers sitting at the cabinet table. Others retort that the UK has gone to great lengths to separate the goals of its foreign, aid and trade policies and mergers of departments would deliberately conflate those goals again. Our panel discussed whether the current arrangement supports foreign policy objectives, whether changes should be made and whether the UK can learn anything from other countries. Our panel included: Crispin Blunt MP, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, director of the US and the Americas Programme, Chatham House Sophia Gaston, director of the British Foreign Policy Group The event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, director of

The government has announced its intention to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act (FTPA), the controversial piece of legislation that limited the prime minister’s power to seek an early election. But what would it mean if this power is returned to the prime minister? Can a prerogative power be restored? And what would be lost if the FTPA no longer existed? Our panel included: Matthew Hanney, partner at Flint Global and former special adviser at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Professor Meg Russell, director of the Constitution Unit Mark Harper MP, former chief whip and former minister for political and constitutional reform Raphael Hogarth, associate at the Institute for Government This event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, senior fellow at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

In the Queen’s Speech in December, the government confirmed that it intends to establish a new constitution, democracy and rights commission in this Parliament. The commission offers an opportunity to reflect on some of the challenges to the UK constitution. At present, however, the scope and terms of reference of the commission remain unclear. This expert panel discussed what issues the new commission should address, and recommendations to ensure the body is as effective as possible. Our panel included: Lord Sumption, former Supreme Court justice Gina Miller, campaigner and founding partner of SCM Direct Gisela Stuart, member of the Constitutional Reform Group Steering Committee and chair of Wilton Park Dr Catherine Haddon, senior fellow at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, director of the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for audience questions.

The UK will leave the European Union on 31 January. But that is not the end of the Brexit process. The UK and the EU now have less than 11 months to reach a trade deal. Meanwhile, the government and business must also prepare for life outside the EU’s market and customs union. This event explored the challenges that lie ahead. Our panel included: Stephen Adams, senior director at Global Counsel Stefanie Bolzen, UK correspondent for Die Welt Tony Smith CBE, former director general of the UK Border Force Mike Spicer, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce The event was chaired by Georgina Wright, senior researcher at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for audience questions.

The Institute for Government hosted the annual lecture by its director, Bronwen Maddox. In her speech, Bronwen looked at Boris Johnson’s programme and the implications for government in Whitehall and throughout the UK. The event was chaired by Sir Richard Lambert. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

The new government is considering making changes to the departmental map to better reflect its priorities. At this event, panellists discussed whether recreating a department for energy and climate change would help the government make progress towards its net zero target. Sir Edward Davey, acting co-leader of the Liberal Democrats and former secretary of state for the Department for Energy and Climate Change Angela Francis, chief adviser, economics and economic development at WWF UK Angela Hepworth, policy and regulation director at EDF Energy Guy Newey, strategy and performance director at Energy Systems Catapult and former special adviser at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, senior fellow at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for audience questions.

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Nick Smallwood, Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) to deliver a keynote speech. Nick Smallwood set out his vision for the IPA and the Government Project Delivery Function. The event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

In 2016, the-then foreign secretary Boris Johnson said “while the UK is leaving the EU, it is not leaving Europe”. The UK and the EU will still need to deal with shared problems such as climate change and terrorism. The UK will also want to shape EU rules on data and health and safety standards that will continue to affect it after Brexit. But the UK will find it much harder to do so once it is no longer ‘in the room’. In this session, speakers explored how the UK must adapt the ways it engages the EU and why failing to do so could damage its long-term interests. Our panel: Nicole Sykes, head of EU negotiations at the Confederation of British Industry Joe Owen, programme director at the Institute for Government Georgina Wright, senior researcher at the Institute for Government Alex Stojanovic, researcher at the Institute for Government The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, senior fellow at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

The Institute for Government launched Whitehall Monitor 2020, our annual report on the size, shape and performance of government and the civil service in the last 12 months. But as well as looking at what the data tells us about the past year, and with government and civil service reform in the news, our panel considered what it all means in the years ahead. How much of a problem is staff turnover? Does the civil service have the right skills for the future? What will happen to major government projects? What will the future shape of government look like? Gavin Freeguard, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, presented the key findings. We heard responses from: Chris Cook, Partner and Editor at Tortoise Media Charlotte Pickles, Director of Reform Nitika Argawal, Chief Operating Officer at Apolitical The event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP to give a keynote speech on 'Getting Whitehall Ready for Global Britain'. He was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, director of the Institute for Government. This was followed by an audience Q&A. Dr Liam Fox MP served as secretary of state for international trade from 2016 to 2019 and secretary of state for defence from 2010 to 2011. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament for North Somerset since 1992.

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Gavin Barwell, former Downing Street Chief of Staff to Theresa May. He discussed working in Number 10 and the role of the Chief of Staff. He was in conversation with Bronwen Maddox, Director of the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for audience questions. Lord Barwell was the chief of staff to the prime minister from 2017–19. He was the Member of Parliament for Croydon Central from 2010–17. He served as minister of state for housing and planning at the Department for Communities and Local Government and was previously in the Whips’ Office.

Boris Johnson now has the majority he needs to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the House of Commons. This event looked at what the bill does – and doesn’t – say as well as the prospect for any amendment in the House of Lords. Our panel included: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, Shadow Deputy Labour Leader in the House of Lords Lord Anderson of Ipswich QC, Crossbench Peer and Barrister at Brick Court Chambers Stephen Crabb MP, former Secretary of State for Wales and for Work and Pensions Joanna Cherry QC MP, SNP Justice and Home Affairs spokesperson and MP for Edinburgh South West The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for audience questions.

Page 48 of the Conservative manifesto proposed constitutional reforms that included looking at the relationship between the government, Parliament and the courts, the functioning of the Royal Prerogative and repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. What will this constitutional review involve and what might its consequences be? Our panel included: Douglas Carswell, MP for Clacton from 2005 to 2017 and co-founder of Vote Leave. He has recently started the Good Governance Project. Hilary Benn, Chair of the Exiting the EU Committee and former Shadow Leader of the House from 2010-2011. Chris White, managing director of Newington Communications and former Special Adviser to Patrick McLoughlin, Andrew Lansley and William Hague. Catherine Haddon, senior fellow at the Institute for Government. The event was chaired by Hannah White, deputy director at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

One of the top priorities for Boris Johnson’s new government is ‘getting Brexit done’ – but what does that involve? This event looked at prospects for the next phase of negotiations, Parliament’s role, and what the government and the civil service needs to do to prepare. Our panel included: · Raoul Ruparel, former Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Europe · Joe Owen, Programme Director on Brexit, Institute for Government · Georgina Wright, Senior Researcher, Institute for Government · Maddy Thimont Jack, Senior Researcher, Institute for Government The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Director of Research at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for audience questions.

The 2019 General Election is one of the most unpredictable and important elections in recent times. On the morning after polling day, we discussed the result – and what happens next. Our panel included: Will Tanner, director of Onward and former deputy head of policy in No.10 Joe Owen, Brexit programme director at the Institute for Government Dr Gemma Tetlow, chief economist at the Institute for Government Giles Wilkes, senior fellow at the Institute for Government and former special adviser to Theresa May. The event was chaired by Bronwen Maddox, director of the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

The main political parties are offering strikingly different visions for the future of the country, including radically different economic policy agendas. Whichever party forms the next government, it is likely to take a different approach to economic policy from previous administrations. Does the Treasury need to rethink how it approaches economic policy? And does it have the ability and inclination to do so? Our panel of economic thinkers from across the political spectrum discussed whether Treasury economic thinking needs to change and how well prepared the department is to support a government with a new agenda. Nick Macpherson, former permanent secretary to the Treasury Stian Westlake, Former executive director of policy and research, Nesta Ann Pettifor, director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics (PRIME) The event was chaired by Dr Gemma Tetlow, chief economist at the Institute for Government There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

This event was aimed at people who may not have considered public policy research before. We were particularly interested in encouraging those from diverse backgrounds who would bring different perspectives to our efforts to make government more effective. Since it was established in 2009, the Institute for Government has steadily expanded its reputation as the UK’s leading think tank dedicated to improving government. We work closely with senior politicians and civil servants to explore the key challenges facing government. We conduct independent research and analysis to support our arguments for change and bring together high-profile UK and international speakers at our public discussions. This event wa an opportunity to find out more about the world of think tanks, the Institute for Government, and to answer your questions. The Institute offers five paid three- to six-month internships starting in March and September each year. At this event, we covered: What is a think tank? How does a think tank wor

The United Kingdom heads to the polls on 12 December. But how well does this electoral system work? Is ‘first past the post’ still the right system for the UK, and if not, what should replace it and how can we get there? What should we make of recent proposals to lower the voting age to 16 and introduce voter ID? What other changes might be required to produce a Parliament that better reflects public will? In this panel discussion, we asked how well the electoral system works, how it affects trust in government and Parliament, and how it might be improved. Our panel included: Antony Green, election analyst at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society John McTernan, commentator and former adviser to Tony Blair Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party. The event was chaired by Emma Norris, director of research at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.

The Labour Party says privatisation has failed: if it wins the election, it will bring utilities including water, energy, rail and mail back into public ownership. The Conservative Party acknowledges some problems but maintains that utilities markets have delivered savings. At this event, an expert panel discussed the pros and cons of different manifesto promises. Speakers included: James Meadway, former policy adviser to John McDonnell Giles Wilkes, senior fellow at the Institute for Government and former special adviser to Theresa May Sharon Darcy, director of Sustainability First The event was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, chief economist at the Institute for Government. There was an opportunity for questions from the audience.