Funding local growth in England
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government sets out how the next government can simplify the funding landscape for all local and combined authorities. Central government’s over-reliance on competitive bidding to fund local and combined authorities is not working for anyone and inhibits local growth. This report sets out how the next...
A preventative approach to public services
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government sets out how the next government can use a new parliament to shift to a preventative approach to public services. Whoever wins the general election will be unable to deliver high-performing public services – and keep taxes and debt at sustainable levels – unless it...
Who runs Whitehall?
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government highlights the need to improve the way officials are appointed to the most senior roles and managed once in post. This report reveals, for the first time, the backgrounds, appointments, pay and management of 148 of Whitehall’s top civil servants. The IfG’s findings make clear...
A new deal for England
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how the next government should complete the job of English devolution. This report calls on the next government to reset the English devolution agenda and puts forward 30 proposals – which can and should be implemented over the next five years – to...
When to run the next spending review
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government recommends that the next government must hold an urgent spending review before a budget 'cliff edge'. With the UK facing levels of government spending uncertainty not seen in decades, this report warns that whoever wins the general election should launch a one-year spending round within...
Parliament and regulators: How select committees can better hold regulators to account
This report from UK think tank The Institute for Government looks at how select committees can better hold regulators to account. The UK’s new post-Brexit regulatory responsibilities and powers are not matched by adequate levels of parliamentary scrutiny – with almost a third of UK regulators not scrutinised by parliament since the 2019 general election....
Adapting to climate change
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government will look at how the UK can better manage a rapidly changing environment. The impact of climate change is beginning to be felt in the UK. Despite this, successive governments have failed to prepare the UK to adapt to these changes. New housing developments are...
Power with purpose
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government gives seven recommendations for radical reform of the centre of government. Power with purpose sets out why the centre of government has failed successive prime ministers – and why it will continue to do so – and puts forward seven recommendations for radical reform. Whoever...
Strengthening the UK’s fiscal framework: Putting fiscal rules in their place
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government provides a guide to reform the fiscal framework to enable the government to make better choices. The UK’s fiscal framework, including a flawed set of rules, is incentivising bad policy decisions shaped by short-termism and fictional spending plans – and does little to promote fiscal...
Rebuilding trust in public life
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government states that the next government should start the difficult process of showing the British public that our institutions can be trusted. Trust in the institutions of public life has taken a beating after years of scandal in UK politics. From MPs’ lobbying to corruption allegations...