IfG Events

In 2024, Eluned Morgan MS became the sixth first minister of Wales – and the first woman to hold the role – since the dawn of devolution in 1999. She now leads Welsh Labour into the 2026 Senedd election, which will be held under a new electoral system, and at which Labour faces a double challenge from the rise of Plaid Cymru and Reform. On 22 January, the Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Eluned Morgan to discuss how devolution to Wales has evolved since 1999, her priorities as First Minister, how the Labour governments in Cardiff and Westminster can cooperate on shared goals, and Welsh Labour’s vision for Wales’s constitutional future. The first minister was in conversation with Akash Paun, Programme Director of Devolution at the Institute for Government, followed by a Q&A with the live and online audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the publication of Whitehall Monitor 2026, the Institute for Government’s annual data-led analysis of the state of the UK civil service, the IfG was delighted to welcome Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, to set out why he thinks the status quo isn’t working and update on the government’s efforts to renew the state. He announced his plans to shake up Whitehall and hardwire innovation into government so that it can keep pace with a changing world and grasp the opportunities of the future. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister was introduced by Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump’s second term has been markedly different from his first and has already brought with it the most radical shift in US foreign policy since the Second World War. 2026 has seen Trump ramping up action and rhetoric on multiple fronts with even greater pressure on UK and European leaders to respond. What do the next three years hold for relations between the UK, US and EU? Are current tactics and strategies working for the UK and Europe or do leaders need to change course? Will the prime minister finally be forced to choose between Washington and Brussels? On the first anniversary of Trump’s 2025 inauguration, the Institute for Government and UK In a Changing Europe are delighted to invite you to a panel to discuss these and other questions, with: Sir Simon Fraser, Chair of Flint Global, Chair of Chatham House and former Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2010-15 Fiona Hill, Chancellor of Durham University, Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution and former Presidential Adviser on Foreign Affairs Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe This event will be chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank UK in a Changing Europe for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The government is making major changes to the structure of the NHS. NHS England is being abolished, with its functions merged into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). At the same time, the number of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) is set to be reduced, with many expected to merge. Changes proposed by the 10 Year Health Plan, including contracts for single and multi-neighbourhood providers, will also create changes in local delivery structures. How can the government ensure that the new national structure works effectively? Should any current NHSE functions remain independent of DHSC? How should the reformed DHSC work regionally, and with ICBs, strategic authorities and trusts? How can the government make a success of the emerging ICB structure? How should local delivery structures be reformed? To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including: Dr Penelope Dash, Chair of NHS England Dame Patricia Hewitt, former Secretary of State for Health and author of the Hewitt Review of ICSs Samantha Jones, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care Johan Kahlström, President and Managing Director, UK and Ireland at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. The shadow chancellor delivered a speech, followed by a conversation with Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the Institute for Government. Followed by closing remarks from Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. Political journalist Carolyn Quinn, former presenter of the BBC’s Westminster Hour, was in conversation with four IfG programme directors to discuss their vital work on policy making, public services, ministers and public bodies – and their verdict on the government’s performance. Nick Davies, Programme Director (Public Services) at the Institute for Government Nehal Davison, Programme Director (Policy making) at the Institute for Government Tim Durrant, Programme Director (Ministers) at the Institute for Government Matthew Gill, Programme Director (Public Bodies) at the Institute for Government We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister discussed why his role spanning both No10 and the Cabinet Office was created and the need to modernise public services. Speaking with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, he set out the changes being made to the centre of Whitehall to enable the government to drive action more quickly in 2026. We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. A preview of the issues at stake in the hugely significant elections taking place across the UK in May 2026. Kezia Dugdale, former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy Guto Harri, broadcaster and former No.10 Director of Communications Akash Paun, Programme Director (Devolution) at the Institute for Government Luke Tryl, Director of More in Common This session was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. Drawing on brand new IfG research, this panel gave its verdict on the government's attempts to reform the civil service. Whitehall Monitor 2026 presentation from Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government. Followed by a panel discussion featuring: Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester (joining virtually) Lord Michael Gove, Editor of The Spectator and former government minister Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Rowena Mason, Whitehall Editor at The Guardian This session was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director for Impact and Influence at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. An expert panel explored how well No.10 and the Treasury work together to deliver the government's economic priorities. Rt Hon Ed Balls, broadcaster, presenter of Political Currency, and former Education Secretary Kelly Beaver MBE, Chief Executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland Baroness Ayesha Hazarika, broadcaster and former political adviser This session was chaired by Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government and former No.10 Adviser. We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. Baroness Louise Casey, the government's Lead Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Independent Commission into Adult Social Care, discused her work across the public sector with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference. Opening remarks from Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government Phillip Woolley, Partner, Head of Consulting at Grant Thornton UK LLP Followed by a keynote speech by Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care delivered a speech, followed by a conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The government’s ‘devolution revolution’ in England will see newly-created strategic authorities given greater powers to shape local economic policy through designing and delivering strategies on skills, housing, infrastructure, and transport. This will equip mayors to drive growth, raise living standards and improve services in their areas, while mayoral-led authorities are also expected to influence national economic policy through statutory local growth plans. So how can new authorities – some of which will work across new geographies – develop a well-evidenced and coherent economic strategies? How can places at different stages of development approach this challenge? What role can local businesses, universities, and civil society play in shaping these plans? And how can they best be engaged? Drawing on new IfG research, supported by the University of Surrey, which uses UK and international best practice to set out the development lifecycle of a local economic strategy, this event brough together an expert panel to explore how new strategic authorities can deliver local economic growth. Professor Lisa Collins, Pro Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the University of Surrey Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Tom Walker, Interim CEO at Greater Essex Combined County Authority Mayor Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands The event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This was followed by a Q&A session and an opportunity to network over lunch with fellow attendees. We would like to thank the University of Surrey for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On 20 November, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry published its second report – four and a half years after the inquiry was first announced by Boris Johnson. This report – which follows July’s report on resilience and preparedness – focuses on political and administrative decision making in the UK government during the pandemic, including from the perspectives of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. What does this report reveal about how government operated during the pandemic? What are its lessons for how future governments approach crisis management and preparedness? What has the Covid Inquiry taught us about the need for reforming how inquiries are run? And how should the government approach this challenge? To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including: Vimbai Dzimwasha, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Dr Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government Katie Lines, Senior Research Fellow at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law Jim Reed, Health Reporter at the BBC The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On 20 November 2025, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry will publish its second report. This module focuses on political and administrative decision making during the pandemic, examining how key decisions were made across government, and civil service performance. This report will also include perspectives from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In a rapid reaction webinar the following day, our expert IfG panel unpacked the report’s findings and explored their implications for future governance: Tim Durrant, Programme Director for the IfG Ministers work programme Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the IfG Akash Paun, Programme Director for the IfG Devolution work programme Alex Thomas, Programme Director for the IfG Civil Service work programme The webinar was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At May’s UK-EU summit, Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new Common Understanding between the EU and the UK. The government hailed a new “deal” with the EU which included an agreement on fisheries and a joint commitment to negotiate a ‘youth experience scheme’, as well as new arrangements for agriculture, emissions trading,  energy cooperation and defence.  Many of these changes will involve the UK accepting dynamic alignment, with its potential role in “decision-shaping” to be defined. Six months on, how much progress has been made? Have new stumbling blocks emerged? And now the government has started to highlight the economic consequences of Brexit, will it start to seek an even closer relationship?  To explore these questions and more, we were joined by our expert panel: Baroness Ashton, former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and member of House of Lords and European Affairs Committee Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Foreign Affairs) Sir Ivan Rogers, former UK Permanent Representative to the EU The event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank UK in a Changing Europe for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Poor public service performance was a key reason for Labour’s victory in the 2024 election. Following the new government’s first multi-year spending review and a major reshuffle, this event brough together a panel of experts to discuss how successfully Labour has managed public services since coming to office.   This event brought together a panel of experts to discuss these key questions: What was Labour’s public service inheritance? How much progress has the government made on public services since the election?   What impact with the spending review have on public service performance? What are the biggest public service challenges that need to be addressed over the rest of the parliament? What are the implications for the budget? As the Institute for Government published the latest edition of Performance Tracker, written in partnership with the Nuffield Foundation, which featured new analysis on the performance of public services, Amber Dellar, Stuart Hoddinott and Cassia Rowland, presented the key findings. They were joined by Stephen Bush, associate editor and columnist at the Financial Times. This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government, with an introduction by Mark Franks at the Nuffield Foundation.   This event was kindly supported by the Nuffield Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of the IfG's Labour Party Conference programme. Speakers:  Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Council & Corporate Portfolio Holder at City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Sue Jarvis, Co-Director at Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place Dr Henry Kippin, Chief Executive of North East Combined Authority This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place at the University of Liverpool and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This event was part of the IfG's Labour Party Conference programme. Speakers: Dr Jo Bibby, Director of Health at Health Foundation Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Nick Meade, Chief Executive of Genetic Alliance UK Rob Thomas, Head of Public Affairs, UK and Ireland at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK  This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. This event was held in partnership with Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Better use of technology, the transition from analogue to digital, and greater innovation are at the heart of the 10 Year Health Plan. This includes plans to make the NHS app a gateway to the entire NHS, integrate AI into clinical pathways, create a new Health Data Research Service, make genomic sequencing at birth universal, utilise wearable technology in treatments as standard, and to improve uptake and adoption of medicines. What are the potential benefits of greater use of technology and innovation in the NHS? Are there any risks associated with this? How deliverable is the 10 Year Health Plan’s vision for the use of technology and innovation in the NHS? What are the barriers to greater adoption of technology and innovation more broadly? And how can these be overcome? How can investment in technology and innovation be protected and prioritised?   To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel including: Matthew Chisambi, Director of Imperial College Health Partners Johan Kahlström, President and Managing Director, UK and Ireland at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Sam Roberts, Chief Executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. We would like to thank Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK for kindly supporting this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices