IfG Events

By Institute for GovernmentGovernment

IfG Events episodes

October 22How can Andy Burnham deliver on Labour’s promise to improve public services?
From hospitals to schools, policing and local government, the effects of Labour’s promised reforms to public services are now being felt. Waiting times for some NHS services have improved, absence from schools is falling, and knife crime and neighbourhood crime have both fallen. But despite these signs of improvement, a thorny set of problems across public services could threaten Andy Burnham’s own ambitious reform agenda.
The launch event for the IfG’s annual Public Services Performance Tracker, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, considered Keir Starmer’s legacy on public service improvement, how Burnham can deliver tangible improvements before the next election, and what choices face John Healey at his first budget and subsequent spending review.
Our expert panel considered:
What is Andy Burnham’s public service inheritance?

How much progress did Keir Starmer’s government make on public services?

What are the biggest public service challenges that need to be addressed over the rest of the parliament?

How might Burnham’s devolution agenda transform public services?

What are the implications for the budget and next year’s spending review?
To discuss these questions and more, we were joined by:
Amber Dellar, Researcher at the Institute for Government

Stuart Hoddinott, Associate Director at the Institute for Government

Cassia Rowland, Associate Director at the Institute for Government
This webinar was chaired by Thomas Pope, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government. Mark Franks, Director of Welfare at the Nuffield Foundation, made opening remarks.
We would like to thank the Nuffield Foundation for kindly supporting this event.

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1 hr 1 min
October 09Leaders of tomorrow: How can the UK develop politicians fit for the future?
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference 2026.
Speakers:
Heather Blundell, CEO of Grayling

Rt Hon Baroness Thérèse Coffey, former Deputy Prime Minister

Rt Hon Lord Michael Gove, Editor of The Spectator
This event was chaired by Vicky Elliott, Director at the Institute for Government
This event was in partnership with The Spectator.

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56 min
October 06Social security, disability and health-related inactivity: What is the Conservative case for reform?
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference 2026.
Speakers:
Helen Whately MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Helen Barnard, Director of Policy and Research at Trussell

Fraser Nelson, Columnist at The Times

Ben Paxton, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
This event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.
This event was in partnership with Trussell.

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1 hr 6 min
October 05 In conversation with Baroness Bennett, former Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
This event took place at the Green Party Conference.
Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government was joined by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales (2012–16).

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48 min
October 05How can digital public services be made a reality?
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Labour Party Conference.
Speakers:
Mallory Durran, Chief Technology Officer at Nesta

Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Cabinet Member for Innovation at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Cassia Rowland, Associate Director at the Institute for Government

Rachel Taylor, UK Government & Health Industries Leader and Global Government & Public Sector Leader at PwC
This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.
This event was in partnership with PwC.

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34 min
October 05In conversation with Alex Burghart MP, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference.
Speakers:
Alex Burghart MP, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party
This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director at the Institute for Government.

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39 min
October 05Should ministers have more power over public bodies?
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference.
Speakers:
Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Shadow Minister (Treasury)

Henry Hill, Editor of The Critic

Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham, Founder and Chairman of Francis Maude Associates

Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund
This event was chaired by Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

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1 hr 2 min
October 05Governing in a fractured Britain: How should the Conservatives rethink their approach to power?
This discussion was part of the Institute for Government's programme of events at the Conservative Party Conference.
Speakers:
Baroness Finn of Swansea, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office

Dr Patrick English, Head of Elections and Political and Social Data at YouGov

Lucy Harris, former MEP and Conservative Special Adviser

Salma Shah, IfG Senior fellow and former Conservative Special Adviser

Tom Skinner, former Conservative Special Adviser
This event was chaired by Alex Thomas, Executive Director at the Institute for Government.
This event was in partnership with YouGov.

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1 hr 5 min
September 30How can Labour’s early years agenda better support boys from low-income families?
This event was part of the IfG's programme of events at the Labour Party Conference 2026.
Speakers:
Paul Waugh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education)

Lynn Perry MBE, Chief Executive Officer at Barnardo's

Sarah Ronan, Executive Director at the Early Education and Childcare Coalition

Matt Towner, Director of Programmes at Impact on Urban Health

Alistair Strathern MP, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Labour Group for Men and Boys
This event was chaired by Nehal Davison, former Programme Director at the Institute for Government.
This event was in partnership with Barnardo’s and Impact on Urban Health.

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1 hr
September 30Where next for English devolution under Andy Burnham?
This event was part of the IfG's programme of events at the Labour Party Conference 2026.
Speakers:
Mayor Kim McGuinness, Mayor of North East England

Cllr Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester

Mark Rogers, Interim Chief Executive, Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority
This event was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.
This event was in partnership with The University of Manchester.

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59 min

About IfG Events

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The Labour government has a huge majority in parliament – but Keir Starmer’s administration is also facing an incredibly complex set of policy challenges. So how can the prime minister and his team turn around public service performance? What can chancellor Rachel Reeves do to get the economy growing again? What will mission-driven government actually mean in practice? Who should be making the key decisions in Westminster – and beyond? And what will the appointment of a new cabinet secretary mean for the future direction of the civil service?