Just finished this - a fascinating conversation! Check it out
06.03.2026 12:18
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Just finished this - a fascinating conversation! Check it out
Huge thanks to @elliechowns.bsky.social @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social and Karen Bradley MP for joining me for #IWD2026.
Got into quite the debate about what the constituency inbox teaches you about problems facing our public services and frustrations that causes
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...
This seems very misleading by the Home Sec - poor form and doesn't help with the whole "rebuilding trust in politics" that this government purports to care about
I’ll be following the legislation with interest!
(Appreciate I may be the only one…)
If all additional salaries were to be allocated to the most senior rank available, this would result in one additional salary at Secretary of State rank, three additional salaries at Minister of State rank, and seven additional salaries at Parliamentary Secretary rank.
The notes from the government say *if* they were to use the new limits at their highest level, they’d create one new SoS post - based on diff govts’ records to date, I can’t see them doing anything other than maxing out the limit. Patronage is a powerful thing
No wait this is wrong - it’s 11 new posts (I always get confused by the cumulative nature of these caps), which will effectively all be in the Lords as the govt isn’t lifting the cap of 95 Commons ministers. But they could put a new SoS in the Commons, if they moved a diff ministerial role to HoL
And actually - having now read the Bill - the govt is creating 16 new paid posts (at my count), which is more than the unpaid roles they have across both Houses. Also includes a new secretary of state role - sign of a reshuffle coming?
Completely agree! Are they just going to have to repeat the same piece of legislation in a few years?
In the run-up to International Women’s Day, Megan has pulled together some fascinating insights from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s work, looking at women ministers and their experiences in government - check it out here:
But it's a missed opportunity to better consider how many ministers we actually need, and what they do. In 10 or 20 years time, will a govt need to do the same again, because they've accumulated another dozen unpaid ministers in the Lords? (there are also a few in the Commons...)
This doesn't increase the number of ministers overall (I don't think), nor does it increase the number of peers - it just allows a salary for those already doing the job from the Lords. And I think it's right that people shouldn't do a job for free!
If you centralise, you need more ministers; if you decentralise, you need fewer.
Labour also promised to reduce the size of the Lords, but that has got bogged down (and this move is in part a response to some of the debate on that legislation)
... the reason we have c120 ministers is in part because of how centralised our government is. Labour came into power saying they wanted to decentralise, but since then ministers have taken on more direct roles in running the NHS, the trains and overseeing the police
This is interesting - on the one hand, makes sense given how much is expected of ministers in the Lords (who don't have a base salary, just an allowance)
But I do think this is a failing to be more innovative about what ministers are for...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
The chancellor’s spring forecast was short and free of new policy content.
So what did we learn? The IfG's public finances team set out four key things www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
As part of our series with devolved party leaders, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk is pleased to be hosting Reform UK leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, for an online-only conversation on Monday 16/3.
Sign up: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/lord-m...
And let me know what I should ask him!
I am very proud to be listed on the Women in Westminster: The 100 list for 2026 alongside so many amazing women
Thank you @thehousemag.bsky.social #WiW100
Lovely to be named one of this year's 100 'Women in Westminster', and proud to to be alongside such an incredible group of women helping to shape policy and politics for the better.
#wiw100
www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...
we made the same point yesterday in our quick @instituteforgovernment.org.uk reaction piece. Silly to be punchy on inflation, but Reeves generally well served by avoiding making big new choices www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
Fantastic to see both of the brilliant @emmanorris.bsky.social and @gemmatetlow.bsky.social recognised in this year's Women in Westminster top 100.
Both are incredibly impressive colleagues and I've learnt so much from them. www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...
PODCAST 🎙️ Trump vs Iran: Is the UK ready for war?
Sir Alex Younger, former head of MI6, joins us to discuss what the US strikes on Iran mean for the UK and global security.
PLUS: Spring forecast fall-out? We assess the chancellor's plan www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
SPRING FORECAST - OBR's net migration forecasts have been revised down significantly; net migration forecast for 2030 is now 281k, vs. 340k in November's forecast.
A quote from Dan Haile, Senior Economist at the Institute for Government. "The chancellor has stuck to her plan for a low-key spring forecast. The UK has been an outlier in chopping and changing fiscal policy so often, but sticking to one major fiscal event a year gives the government more time and space to make better policy decisions."
"...sticking to one major fiscal event a year gives the government more time and space to make better policy decisions."
@danhaile.bsky.social, IfG senior economist, reacts to today's 'low-key' spring forecast.
More analysis to follow soon www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/spring-forec...
Reeves sits down having announced no real new policy measures at this Spring Forecast (but having made a very political speech)
So she did not make this a fiscal event – which is absolutely the right thing for her to do
The government will publish the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest economic and fiscal forecast today.
On Inside Briefing we were joined by Rupert Harrison - former chief of staff to George Osborne - to discuss the forecast.
Listen here:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
The EIC has today launched its first review, exploring the role of public sector ombudsman schemes in identifying wider systemic failures.
We are seeking input into our review via the link below.
eic.independent-commission.uk/ombudsman-re...
With student loans back in the spotlight, it’s worth asking: how does the student finance system actually operate?
@martha-ford.bsky.social explains what financial support the government offers students in England.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/st...
EVENT | In conversation with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru
📆Mon 2 March (today), 12:30–13:30
Join us on today to hear @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social discuss the 2026 Senedd election, his plan for government, and @plaidcymru.bsky.social's vision for Wales.
Labour has lost two by-elections since the 2024 general election. Our updated explainer has all you need to know about the latest Gorton and Denton by-election, which the Green Party's Hannah Spencer won with 41% of the votes. Previously in the 2024 GE, Labour won the seat with 51% of the vote.
Following the Plaid Cymru Spring conference, Rhun ap Iorwerth will be speaking at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on Monday 1230-1330. Details for in person and online sign up below. 👇
