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.

We would like to thank Grant Thornton UK LLP for supporting this event.

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This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

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.

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.

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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:

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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This event was part of Government 2026, the IfG's annual conference.

Opening remarks from

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. 

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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.

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.

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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.

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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:

The webinar was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

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