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.

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 No.10 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.

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.

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.

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.

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, discussed her work across the public sector with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

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

Welcome

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

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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.

According to the Washington Post, Donald Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims during his first term as US president – and Trump 2.0 has also shown little regard for facts or evidence. Unexpected presidential announcements are made on social media or in press conferences, and Trump’s positions can appear to change overnight. Leaders of other countries, including Keir Starmer, find their own plans and statements overshadowed or knocked off course.

Despite this chaos and confusion, Trump appears authentic and able to galvanise his base while other, more conventional, political communicators struggle to get their message across.

So is Trump rewriting the rules for government communications? Does the UK have sufficient safeguards against our political leaders adopting Trump’s attitude to facts? Does the UK have robust enough rules to ensure that government communications serve the public not partisan interest? And how is it possible to plan government communications when those plans are constantly blown away by overnight developments in the US?

To discuss these questions and more, the Institute for Government, in partnership with Vuelio, was delighted to bring together an expert panel including:

Katy Balls, Washington Editor for The Times

Simon Baugh, Chief Executive of Government Communications, 2021–25

Alastair Campbell, former No.10 Chief Press Secretary (1997–2000) and No.10 Director of Communications (2000–03) and presenter of the Rest is Politics podcast.

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

This webinar was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank Vuelio for kindly supporting this event.

Are public inquiries a good way for government to learn lessons by Institute for Government

Just hours after Rachel Reeves sets out the budget to parliament, this webinar brought together a team of Institute for Government (IfG) experts to share their instant and essential analysis of the chancellor’s plans.

Who are the winners and losers of Reeves’s tax and spending announcements? How will her measures affect economic growth? Has the chancellor finally set a coherent tax strategy? And what challenges now lie ahead for Keir Starmer’s government?

To answer these questions and more, this budget day webinar from the IfG brought together an expert line up featuring Dan Haile, Jill Rutter, and Giles Wilkes. The webinar was chaired by Dr Hannah White.