This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at a coherent tax strategy to help the transition to a zero carbon economy. With COP26 less than three weeks away, Rishi Sunak’s forthcoming budget must set out a coherent tax strategy to help the UK transition to a zero carbon economy. Failing to...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how government departments are failing to live up to transparency commitments. This report shows how government departments are failing to live up to transparency commitments made by successive prime ministers – with the Foreign Office, Ministry of Justice and Home Office the worst...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at five questions about what the government means by the phrase 'levelling up'. The government’s flagship levelling up agenda lacks clear objectives, with policies often contradicting ministerial rhetoric about decentralising power. This report, published today alongside new analysis of how money was allocated from...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how borrowing on international markets would affect an independent Scotland’s monetary policy. This report, published alongside a second paper on currency options for an independent Scotland, sets out how currency choice and needing to borrow from international markets would affect an independent Scotland’s...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at the currency choice for a newly independent Scotland. Any currency choice for a newly independent Scotland would require its government to bring borrowing down to a sustainable level and commit to low and stable inflation. This report, published alongside a second paper on...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at what does Boris Johnson’s new cabinet mean for government. After months of rumours, Boris Johnson has reshuffled his cabinet to remove some of the most criticised ministers and elevate his allies. In public terms, it may prove underwhelming. He has indeed demoted or...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at process for public appointments. This report sets out 10 key questions that William Shawcross, Boris Johnson’s preferred candidate for the role of commissioner for public appointments, should be asked at the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) pre-appointment hearing. It says the...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how successful was the furlough scheme and what should happen next? The furlough scheme risks providing poor value for money and should end as planned at the end of September – even if it is still supporting many jobs. This report, based on...

This report from UK think tank Institute for Government looks at the effectiveness of government scrutiny by parliament.  The government must drop its dismissive approach to scrutiny as parliament returns to in-person sittings. Parliamentary Monitor 2021 finds that the efforts of MPs and peers to hold ministers to account during the 2019–21 parliamentary session were...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government assesses the public finance forecasts and what these might mean for the multi-year spending review. Numerous spending pressures on government mean Rishi Sunak will face a difficult balancing act this autumn. Remaining committed to the letter of “the perverse” state pensions triple-lock will increase pressure...