Rewiring the state
12 May 2025, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Online
Think tank: Institute for Government

This event hosted by UK think tank the Institute for Government will consider the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 ‘Commission on the Centre of Government’.
This special event will consider the recommendations of the Institute’s 2024 Commission on the Centre of Government in light of our analysis of the Labour government’s first year in office and the prime minister’s agenda to reform public services and rewire the state.
The Chair of the Institute, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, will speak on government reform and the civil service – offering his valedictory reflections as he steps down from the role this summer. Lord Sainsbury’s speech will be followed by a presentation of the Institute’s key recommendations on civil service reform, discussion with a panel of senior IfG staff and incoming IfG Chair Sir Ian Cheshire, and audience questions.
We hope you can join us for this important event which will highlight the relevance of the Institute’s existing research to the government’s vital reform agenda and preview our future research plans.
Welcome and opening remarks
Dr Hannah White OBE – Director and CEO of the Institute for Government
Speech
Lord Sainsbury of Turville – Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government
Q&A
Lord Sainsbury of Turville – Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Government
Rt Hon Sir David Lidington KCB – Board member at the Institute for Government
Presentation
Alex Thomas – Programme Director at the Institute for Government
Panel discussion
Sir Ian Cheshire – Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Government
Alex Thomas – Programme Director for the civil service at the Institute for Government
Emma Norris – Deputy Director of the Institute for Government
This panel will be chaired by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.