This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at why hospital activity has not increased in line with funding and staffing. Politicians need to seriously engage with the real problems facing the NHS – or the decline in hospital performance levels will become extremely difficult to reverse. This report – written jointly...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at the lessons from the Darlington Economic Campus for civil service relocation. The relocation of parts of the civil service to Darlington is proving beneficial for government – but ministers shouldn’t see civil service relocation as a primary tool for reducing regional economic inequality....

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at the deep-rooted institutional and cultural problems that undermine the Home Office’s performance. Deep-rooted institutional and cultural problems undermine the Home Office’s performance and approach to crime, immigration, and asylum seekers – and are neglected by ministers at their peril. This report says Suella...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at the concept of impartiality within the context of the UK civil service. The importance of an impartial civil service is part of the conventional wisdom of government in the UK. Often discussed, sometimes challenged, debate on the subject is not new but often...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how the civil service should improve support for ministers. Strengthening civil service support for ministers is essential to reset the strained relationship between Whitehall and government – and this should begin with reform of ministers' private offices. Recent events in government, including the...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at where devolution of policy responsibilities would be most beneficial. This report sets out where devolution of policy responsibilities would be most beneficial. It finds that international evidence on the link between devolution and economic performance is inconclusive at best and regional growth is...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at their interview archive and pulls out their advice for those taking on the role. The Institute for Government’s Ministers Reflect archive comprises close to 150 interviews with ministers from UK and devolved governments of the last 30 years, from all parties, departments and...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at lessons that can be learnt from 1997 and 2010 in preparing the shadow Cabinet. In the UK the main party of government has changed only twice in three decades. In 1997, Labour took over after 18 years of Conservative rule; in 2010, after...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at lessons that can be learned for HM Treasury from the pandemic. This report examines the Treasury’s impressive role in designing and delivering economic support schemes – as well as the problems that undermined government decision making. It draws on over a year of...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at improving policy making on food and health. This report reveals how every government since 1992 has missed targets to reduce obesity – with the UK’s rising obesity rates harming people’s health and life opportunities, burdening the NHS and damaging the economy. It exposes...