Policy area: Government

Reports

Fixing public services: priorities for the new Labour government

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government examines the public services priorities for the new Labour government. This report from the Institute for Government and Nuffield Foundation reveals that the government’s inheritance on public services is extremely precarious. Most services are performing worse now than they were in 2010 or before the...

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Half of us: turnout patterns at the 2024 general election

This report from UK think tank IPPR takes a first look at who spoke in the 2024 UK general election. One-half of adults in this country voted at the 2024 general election, the lowest share of the population to vote since universal suffrage. This report takes a first look at who spoke in the 2024...

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Great expectations? Public perceptions and expectations for the new government

This report from UK think tank Bright Blue looks at public perceptions and expectations for the new government. This polling analysis examines UK public attitudes towards the performance of the last Conservative Government and their perceptions of the priorities and effectiveness of the new Labour Government. It reveals that the UK public is united in...

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100 Four 100: How a new government can set itself up for success

This report from UK think tank offers an essential playbook for an incoming government on how to begin delivering on key election pledges from day one. With the UK set for a change of government, we look ahead to the morning after election night, asking how an incoming government can use its first 100 hours,...

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Northern Ireland

This report from UK think tank the Constitution Unit looks at the challenges for the next Westminster government. Whatever the result of the upcoming general election, a new Westminster government may want to comprehensively reappraise the way that it addresses Northern Ireland issues, a new Constitution Unit report says. The report, which offers an agenda...

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Capital spending in public services: fixing how the government invests in the NHS, schools and prisons

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government reveals the impact of the UK’s historically low – and badly spent – capital budgets. Crumbling buildings, creaking IT and a lack of equipment will continue to seriously hamper public service performance unless the next government takes a new approach to capital spending. This report,...

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Religious diversity in UK parliamentary constituencies

This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society provides a topline summary of the latest data on religious diversity in Britain. In April 2015, the Henry Jackson Society released a briefing about the presence of religious groups throughout the United Kingdom. Titled Religious Diversity in British Parliamentary Constituencies, it detailed the number and...

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Breadline Britain’s election battleground

This report from UK think tank the Centre for Social Justice puts together an analysis of low-income voters to encourage all parties to make social justice their priority. Five years ago, with a general election looming, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) polled low-income voters on how they viewed the major political parties. Almost 8...

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Cultural recovery evidence review

This report from UK think tank City-REDI brings together academic and policy literature relevant to the theme of cultural recovery. This report by James Davies, City-REDI, University of Birmingham and Abigail Gilmore, Arts Management and Cultural Policy, University of Manchester brings together academic and policy literature relevant to the theme of cultural recovery, drawing on...

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General election 2024: the precarious state of the state

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government examines the scale and severity of the problems facing the next government. The general election campaign is in full swing. Politicians are vying to persuade the public that it is their party which is best placed to lead the UK to a brighter future. But...

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Ethnic and gender diversity in the next parliament

This report from UK think tank British Future The 2024 Parliament will be Britain’s most diverse ever, with a record number of ethnic minority MPs taking seats in the Commons, according to new analysis of final candidate selections by British Future. The General Election will see the biggest ever increase in minority representation. With around...

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Delivering House of Commons reform

This report from UK think tank The Constitution Unit explores different institutional vehicles for developing and delivering proposals for House of Commons reform. Recent years have seen many proposals for reforming the internal procedures of the House of Commons, against a backdrop of clear public dissatisfaction with parliament. Less attention has been given to the...

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Mission Critical 01: Statecraft for the 21st century

This report from UK think tank the Future Governance Forum looks at statecraft for the 21st century. 2024 presents a rare opportunity for the UK: a potential change of UK administration could trigger a radical shift in the way government is structured and delivered, and improved outcomes for all. Written by leading missions expert Professor...

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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...

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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...

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