This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government sets out how the OBR has done this in the past, how its approach has evolved in recent years, and how it could be strengthened further. The government has made economic growth one of its five missions. But this will not be realised quickly: easing...

This report from UK think tank the Constitution Unit aims to help MPs navigate their core constitutional functions. MPs hold a huge and important job, and one which is central to the UK’s constitutional system. But they also have busy lives and numerous pressing demands on their time, which can make it easy to lose...

This report from UK think tank IPPR looks at understanding the chancellor's choices ahead of the budget. Voters believe the government should be "changemakers, not just bookkeepers." New polling from IPPR and Persuasion UK reveals the public want ministers to focus on investing in public services rather than just balancing the budget.

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation argues that overcoming falling levels of trust will require rethinking how we understand the concept. Trust in government is at a historic low. In this paper, Steve van Riel argues that overcoming falling levels of trust will require rethinking how we understand the concept. He...

This report from UK think tank IPPR, the TUC and Persuasion UK today assesses the level of support for increasing workers' rights amongst managers. Labour’s manifesto pledged to strengthen employees’ protections at work. In this research, our goal was to assess levels of support for increasing workers’ rights amongst managers, and explore the opinions of...

This report from UK think tank IPPR urges government to follow up quickly on its commitment to place ‘international nature’ at heart of foreign policy. A healthy natural world is a non-negotiable life-support system for every person on earth. It underpins all of our lives in fundamental ways. However, our joint life support system is...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government Labour has come to power promising to lead a ‘mission-driven government’ and on the basis of a manifesto that focused on its five national ‘missions’. The party has defined this as working: “towards long-term national goals” with “departments working together rather than in silos. Business...

This report from UK think tank HEPI considers the recent history of student finance in England before proposing a 10-point plan for fixing some current weaknesses. Tim Leunig lays out the shortcomings of the current higher education funding model in England and proposes a 10-point action plan to fix the system for the benefit of...

This report from UK think tank Carnegie UK looks at improving our understanding of participatory and deliberative democracy’s ability to deliver democratic wellbeing. In August 2023 Carnegie UK began a programme of engagement to help improve our understanding of participatory and deliberative democracy’s ability to deliver democratic wellbeing. This work had a particular focus on...

This report from UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute looks at building a future-focused immigration system. Right-wing progressivism is nothing less than the revival of Smithian political economy. Instead of trying to return to the unique economic and cultural circumstances of the 20th century, which the progressive left and traditionalist right hope to do...

This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society discusses putting culture and creativity at the heart of national renewal. The Fabian Society’s Arts and Creative Industries unit was set up in November 2023 to develop bold new ideas for culture policy inspired by progressive values. This pamphlet draws together some of the unit’s most...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government looks at improving accountability in government procurement. The Procurement Act, brought in under the previous government and effective from February 2025, will bring in a new public sector procurement regime. Simplified regulations, greater transparency and enhanced exclusion criteria could all help improve accountability. But there...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government draws on the experience of seven former politicians of having a baby while in office. This report, co-authored by former minister Chloe Smith, looks at the experience of seven ministers and MPs who had a baby while in office. It examines the impact of the...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government examines the history of why successive governments have found it difficult to deliver on housebuilding pledges. Fixing the housing crisis has featured in every recent UK government’s list of top priorities: this report examines why so many have found it difficult to deliver on such...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government sets out 20 tangible actions that the new government should take to radically improve the civil service. Almost a month after the general election, new ministers and advisers are settling into their roles. Departments have already issued a stream of announcements and new initiatives, and...