The price of everything, the social value of nothing
This report from UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute looks at how the Social Value Act damages British procurement. In this paper, our Director of Research Maxwell Marlow analyses the Social Value Act 2012 and its effects on the procurement process in the UK. The Social Value Act, and accompanying Social Value Model, stipulate...
How is evidence used in tax policy making?
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how different types of evidence feed into tax policy making. Taxes are likely to be a key battleground in the next election. Weak growth, struggling public services and the cost-of-living crisis are creating pressure for more public spending. But in opposition the Labour...
Wired for success
This report from UK think tank Onward looks at reforming Whitehall to support science and technology. In the first half of 2023 the UK Government transformed its approach to science, creating a new Science Department, setting out a series of new strategies, and establishing an AI-focussed Foundation Models Taskforce backed by £100 million. But our...
Breaking down the barriers: why Whitehall is so hard to reform
This report from UK think tank Re:State maps the barriers to reforming Whitehall to help develop a plan which can overcome deep-rooted flaws. There is remarkable consensus – including among many working within the civil service – on the key flaws in the Whitehall machine. Yet, while successive administrations have attempted to modernise the civil...
Revamping government reform
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at the long-awaited refresh of its civil service reform programme. Two years after the publication of the Declaration on Government Reform, the government has set out a long-awaited refresh of its civil service reform programme. Cabinet Office minister Jeremy Quin detailed his priorities for...
Leading the way
This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society looks at lessons for Labour from Europe. The Fabian Society and the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) asked politicians and activists from across Europe for words of advice for UK Labour. The responses bring together insights from as far afield as Galați in eastern Romania...
What does the Office for Local Government need to succeed?
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at the newly-launched Office for Local Government and the potential to make government more effective. The newly-launched Office for Local Government (Oflog) has the potential to make government at all levels more effective – but there is a risk that Oflog will be held...
The art of the devolution deal
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at how England’s counties and cities can make a success of devolution. This report sets out how politicians and officials can master the art of the devolution deal to give new devolved institutions a greater chance of success. It welcomes the cross-party consensus behind...
The unregulated regulator
This report from UK think tank the Centre for Policy Studies argues that the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill could undermine dynamism in digital markets. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill is a proposed new law which is intended to ‘stamp out unfair practices and promote competition in digital markets’. It would...
The language of freedom
This report from UK think tank the Centre for Policy Studies maps the British public’s attitudes to the Big Six national priorities. We are all obsessed with which party is getting what share of the vote- both now and the next UK polling day – but what are the fundamental values driving British public opinion?...