Special advisers (SpAds) are some of the most important yet misunderstood figures in government. They play vital roles – as the voice of their minister in the department, shaping policy agendas and managing the media. As a new government gets up and …
The reset in relationships between ministers and civil servants, for which we at the Institute for Government have long been arguing, has arrived. Keir Starmer’s first message to the civil service was that “I want you to know that you have my confidence, …
The new government has committed to being ‘mission-driven’, focusing its efforts on five key areas: growth, the NHS, clean energy, safer streets and opportunity. We now know these missions will be overseen by committees and boards chaired by the prime …
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Frequent headlines about crises in our public services have begun to lose their bite. But the situation in prisons is so severe that it threatens the functioning of the whole criminal justice system. Court hearings have already been delayed and police …
As well as bringing back ministers who served in the last Labour government, the prime minister has appointed new ministers who have expertise in particular fields. The first non-cabinet appointments announced were Patrick Vallance and James Timpson, …
The inheritance will be one of, if not the defining issue of Labour’s first few years in government. The same problems that provided a springboard for them in the election campaign – waiting lists, crime, sewage etc – now risk becoming quicksand in …
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced that he will be stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party. The party will now need to choose a new leader. This explainer sets out the process of the party leadership contest. How does the leadership …
The Labour Party has been given an enormous parliamentary mandate to deliver change. But the electorate is sceptical about government and politics. Polling shows that one of the biggest reasons voters switched away from the Conservatives was because they …
It’s not even a week since the British electorate voted to hand power back to Labour. Keir Starmer now leads a government with a huge majority. Rishi Sunak is still – just – leading a massively reduced Conservative opposition. The Liberal Democrats have …
As the Conservative party looks likely to descend into painful post-match analysis and a fractious leadership contest, it is joined on the opposition benches by an unusually varied set of other parties. Four MPs will take their seats for the Greens and …
The King’s Speech on 17th July will set out Sir Keir Starmer’s legislative agenda for government and reveal his priorities for the parliamentary session. While Labour’s attention and resources have been focused on the general election campaign, Starmer and …
Rachel Reeves has set out the new Labour government’s first steps towards “fixing the foundations” of Britain’s economy. In a speech at the Treasury, the new chancellor announced a series of planning reforms which she says will get Britain building the …
Get MPs sworn in to parliament: from 9 July A new parliament will be summoned to meet on 9 July. The first business will be to elect a Commons Speaker and complete the swearing in of MPs and peers. MPs take the oath in order of seniority: the Speaker goes …
The first Labour cabinet in 14 years is in place and the junior ministerial ranks are being filled. But although the process of appointing ministers is unlikely to ever again be so straightforward for Keir Starmer, the new prime minister’s approach looks …
Some of the most enduring reforms made by UK chancellors have been to the structures that support economic policy making and announced early on in the life of a new government – from Gordon Brown’s granting independence to the Bank of England in 1997 to …
The next King's Speech, which will mark the State Opening of the first session of parliament following the election, is scheduled for 17 July 2024. What is a King's Speech and when is it delivered? The King’s Speech is part of the State Opening of …
What is the payroll vote? The 'payroll vote' is the body of MPs who hold offices that require them to support the government. These MPs are bound by collective responsibility and would be expected to resign before opposing the government. They may …
How does the opposition oppose government in parliament? Opposition MPs participate in debates on bills and amendments, usually speaking against those introduced by the government. The opposition tends to vote against government policy, although this is …
While not an entirely novel strategy, early appointments of highly qualified externals to the Lords, to fill specialist ministerial roles (Patrick Vallance as minister for science, James Timpson as minister for prisons, parole and probation, Richard Hermer …
