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Reposted by Briony Allen

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 14/03/2025

[NEW] How can the government support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities? Our new report examines the government’s proposed shift to majority voting and the support that is needed to enhance decision making in MCAs Read in full 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

How the government can support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities | Institute for Government

Making England’s ‘devolution revolution’ a reality.

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

It's a local - central - local government sandwich this week from @instituteforgov.bsky.social Following our event on Tuesday on effective decision making in MCAs with @jimmcmahon.co.uk, the PM on the pod yesterday, today we have a new report examining the shift to simple majority voting in MCAs 👇

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

📣New report from me & @brionya.bsky.social MCAs’ decision-making is often limited by unanimous voting rules Effective decision making for key strategic plans requires a shift to simple majority voting alongside greater capacity and accountability www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

How the government can support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities | Institute for Government

Making England’s ‘devolution revolution’ a reality.

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Sarah Routley @sarahroutley.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

On 1 May voters will be heading to the polls to elect the mayors of the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire. At the @instituteforgov.bsky.social we have been building a picture of the candidates they will be choosing between. 🧵

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Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Yesterday the Cabinet Office public bodies team published their 2022/23 ALB report. It's a really interesting and well-visualised piece of work. Check it out here: co-public-bodies.github.io/ALB_Landscap...

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Millie Mitchell @milliemitchell.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Make sure to tune into our webinar this morning (9:30-10:30) for our take on the English Devolution white paper and a chance to get your questions answered! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/labour...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

What does Labour’s devolution white paper mean for England? | Institute for Government

IfG experts discuss the government's plans to extend devolution across England and the challenges ahead.

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Briony Allen @brionya.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

In just over an hour- make sure to tune in if you’ve got any English devolution white paper questions!

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 17/12/2024

Nine things we learned from the English devolution white paper The IfG's devolution team explore what the white paper does and does not contain, and what challenges lie ahead for the government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/engl...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Nine things we learned from the English devolution white paper | Institute for Government

What the white paper does and does not contain, and what challenges lie ahead for the government.

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Yesterday I spoke to ITV meridian news about the implications of the new English Devolution White Paper for the South East - drawing on a recent @instituteforgov.bsky.social report

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Interesting move in Scotland - will have to wait and see how it's enforced re personal devices... the UK government would fall apart, I think, if they tried it - but maybe they'll follow suit! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Scottish government to ban WhatsApp for official business

The announcement comes after it was revealed ministers deleted messages exchanged during the pandemic.

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

A thought from me on the English Devolution White Paper out yesterday...

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Briony Allen @brionya.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

At 9:30 tomorrow @akashpaun.bsky.social, @tompope.bsky.social, @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and @matthewfright.bsky.social will be answering all* your questions on the English devolution white paper. Submit your questions on slido (can be anonymous) or put it in the replies and I'll pass it on!

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Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

I'm on the train back from the launch of the devolution white paper, and finally getting a chance to read the document properly! A few thoughts, based on past @instituteforgov.bsky.social research. 1/

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 16/12/2024

"The government can and should go further in future, but this framework represents a strong base to build on." @tompope.bsky.social, IfG Deputy Chief Economist, gives his verdict on today's devolution white paper and what it means for growth.

"This represents a major transfer of powers to combined authorities across England. And those powers are exactly the ones you would expect should drive growth, such as skills, transport, housing and innovation. The government can and should go further in future, but this framework represents a strong base to build on."

Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Well that's much bolder than expected on voting requirements! @brionya.bsky.social time to archive the many, many CA constitutions you've had to read this year?

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Today the government will launch its English Devolution White Paper. On Wednesday we will analyse the implications in this webinar. While we wait on the govt announcement here is a run down of recent @instituteforgov.bsky.social devolution work

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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Excl: Government will move to scrap district councils in its devolution white paper on Monday, sparking the biggest local government reorganisation in 50 years on.ft.com/3VBH0ui

on.ft.com

District councils face scrapping in major overhaul of English local government

[FREE TO READ] Devolution white paper aims to create larger authorities and more elected mayors

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Paddy McAlary @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

1. On a bright November morning, the final tranche of spad data for the Sunak government was released, completing 14 years of Conservative (and coalition) spad data. At @instituteforgov.bsky.social we’ve crunched the numbers – here’s what we found - www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/14-y...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Five things we learnt from 14 years of Conservative special advisers | Institute for Government

The Cabinet Office’s next data release will give us the first clues of what the Labour spad cohort looks like.

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Millie Mitchell @milliemitchell.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Today the @instituteforgov.bsky.social has published my research into the role that mayors can play to help 'get Britain building'. A 🧵on what the research found

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Excellent new report from my colleague @milliemitchell.bsky.social on the impact of mayoral development corporations. The report sets out some key lessons for mayors, drawing on 6 case studies of MDCs from across England.

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Philip Nye @philipnye.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

New - bad - figures have just been published on the schools spending deficits that councils have Seven out of 10 LAs now have a cumulative deficit, with the total across these LAs leaping to £2.1bn (£1.7bn net deficit across all LAs) – largely as a result of SEND spending

A column chart from the Institute for Government showing the cumulative schools budget deficit of local authorities with a deficit, 2015/16–2023/24 (2023/24 prices), in which the deficit has reached £2.1bn in 2023/24

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Today the Northern Ireland Assembly votes on whether it will continue with post-Brexit trading arrangements. For the low down on today's democratic consent motion debate here is a summary of a great @instituteforgov.bsky.social explainer

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Sophie Metcalfe @sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Interesting to see this in the Plan for Change doc.

Text saying: "For the first time we will strategically join up decisions on housing, business growth and infrastructure at both a national and local level, with the Westminster government’s industrial,
housing and infrastructure strategies aligning with the local growth plans and strategic development plans led by mayors."

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Briony Allen @brionya.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Lovely to go on the Dirleton Solar Walk and see some of what @bensutlieff.bsky.social has been up to 🪐 Would definitely recommend, and Neptune is near a great garden centre if you need cake motivation.

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Sarah Routley @sarahroutley.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its second reading by 330 votes to 275 this afternoon. Adding a devo spin to the @instituteforgov.bsky.social’s analysis, I’ve been taking a look at how MPs across the four nations voted today and what this could mean for its future. 🧵

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Amid the discussion of citizens' assemblies and the assisted dying bill, some thoughts... CAs can be a v useful tool to understand what the public think on a complex issue. We know participants can get to grips with technical detail and good facilitation can ensure high quality deliberation.

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

With plans for reorganisation of some local government areas expected in the upcoming English Devolution White Paper - we have a newly updated @instituteforgov.bsky.social explainer outlining all you need to know about "unitarisation" 🧵

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Ben Paxton @drbenpaxton.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Another independent review! Pretty typical getting someone independent to set out a credible position on a controversial issue, but this is a much more specific topic than many other reviews. Likely reflects just how contentious this has become in the workforce www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

theguardian.com

Wes Streeting orders review of physician associates’ role in NHS

About 3,500 PAs work in England but there is growing alarm in medical profession about patient safety

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Today the IfG hosts Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the Scottish Independence referendum and 25th anniversary of Scottish devolution. The DFM will also speak about Scotland's economy and public services in light of the UK budget.

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Briony Allen @brionya.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill has passed the Commons stage and is now waiting for its second reading in the Lords to be scheduled. But what lessons can the government learn from past Lords reform attempts? @nehaldavison.bsky.social and I look at successive attempts in a new comment.

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 14/11/2024

EVENT: In conversation with Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland 🗓️Monday 18 November, 17:00-18:00 Register now to hear Kate Forbes MSP reflect on the Scottish independence referendum and the 25th anniversary of Scottish devolution www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/kate-f...

An image for an IfG in conversation event with Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland.

Monday 18 November, 17:00-18:00

The Deputy First Minister will be in conversation with Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution, followed by Q&A with the live and online audience.

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

Here's the @instituteforgov.bsky.social starter pack 👇 go.bsky.app/P7JZCH

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Briony Allen @brionya.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

My first comment with @nehaldavison.bsky.social and the @instituteforgov.bsky.social policy making team is out! This forms part of series on how the government can learn lessons from past policy to turn their manifesto promises into tangible results.

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UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Today both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will debate Lords reform. MPs will consider remaining stages of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, with lots of amendments proposed. A 10-part thread 👇

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 08/11/2024

Labour should commit to both the letter and the spirit of the Sewel convention The UK government should consider and consult its devolved counterparts in its legislative agenda. 👇Read the comment www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/sewe...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Labour should commit to both the letter and the spirit of the Sewel convention | Institute for Government

The UK government should consider and consult its devolved counterparts in its legislative agenda.

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 08/11/2024

Relations between the UK and devolved governments came under serious strain during the 2019–24 parliament, particularly after Brexit 👇Read the five case studies on the implementation of the Sewel convention www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

The Sewel convention in practice | Institute for Government

Five case studies from the 2019–24 parliament

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Briony Allen @brionya.bsky.social · 08/11/2024

Excited that our research on the Sewel convention has been published today. We look at five UK acts of parliament passed between 2019-24 to investigate what happened in the legislative consent process, and what lessons can be learnt. Report here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

The Sewel convention in practice | Institute for Government

Five case studies from the 2019–24 parliament

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 06/11/2024

Moves announced in last week's budget to give mayors more control over their budgets are welcome, but in a new @instituteforgov.bsky.social blog I argue that attention also needs to be paid to local accountability arrangements 🧵

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 05/11/2024

EVENT: In conversation with Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland 🗓️ Monday 18 November, 17:00-18:00 Register now to hear Kate Forbes reflect on the Scottish independence referendum and the 25th anniversary of Scottish devolution 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/kate-f...

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

Thanks to @finnbaker.bsky.social for spotting this: the government seems to have confirmed that they are dropping the Conservatives' plan to provide more regular transparency updates about ministers meetings - sticking to quarterly reporting, not monthly. This is disappointing!

Baroness Twycross, a government minister, answering a parliamentary question on 1 November 2024:

This Government will introduce a register for ministers’ gifts and hospitality bringing publication of ministerial transparency data on a broadly equivalent basis to the parliamentary register.

Work on the new register is progressing and further details will be published in due course. Transparency data for ministerial meetings and overseas travel, special advisers and senior officials will continue to be published quarterly as it has been under previous administrations.

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Jordan Urban @jordanurban.bsky.social · 30/10/2024

Going to start using BlueSky more. Here’s my latest for @instituteforgov.bsky.social on the rise & fall of the Department for International Development. Advocates need to reckon more seriously with why it was abolished www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/depa...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

DfID’s rise and fall provides lessons for government departments | Institute for Government

The Department for International Development lost political backing despite its successes.

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Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

Interrupting my holiday in Australia to tell you that @tompope.bsky.social and I have an great new report setting out our thoughts on Local Growth Plans 👇 Really important to get these right, lots of promising stuff so far but purpose, sequencing and powers and funding need clarity.

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Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

New @instituteforgov.bsky.social report out today from me and @rebeccamckee.bsky.social looks at the Local Growth Plans mayors's has been asked to develop TL;DR: a promising innovation, but govt needs to get their purpose and the sequencing right www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Local growth plans | Institute for Government

How government should support a place-based approach to its national growth mission

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 03/10/2024

With confirmation that a new ministerial code is coming soon, thought I'd update this chart: Starmer has now taken longer than every PM, apart from May, to publish his version of the code (Blair was the first to publish a Ministerial Code)

A chart from the Institute for Government showing the number of days that prime ministers have taken to publish their ministerial code after first taking office:
- Blair 90 days, of which 11 were parliamentary recess
- Brown 6, 0 recess
- Cameron 10, 0 recess
- May 161, 78 recess
- Johnson 30, 29 recess
- Truss did not publish a ministerial code
- Sunak 58, 7 recess
- Starmer 90, 55 recess

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Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · 02/10/2024

This is a very helpful overview from Scope on what’s going on with PIP and the proposed changes. One of the most misrepresented benefits out there!

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

Appearing on an @instituteforgov.bsky.social #LPC24 panel on Monday, Jim McMahon called for all English regions to have a mayor. In a new IfG report Akash Paun and I I show some of the options across the regions www.lgcplus.com/politics/dev...

lgcplus.com

Minister: ‘It is not acceptable’ to not have a mayor

The government wants all English regions to have a mayor because they are “part of our system going ...

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

We summarise these alternative approaches as ‘Option 1’ and ‘Option 2’ – although this isn't a binary choice. Ministerial preferences for different factors in different areas could see a mix of smaller and larger deals in the final map

Two Institute for Government maps showing proposals for how to complete the map of English devolution. Full details on the options are available in the report available on our website.

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Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

Yesterday the government announced it plans to proceed with 8 provisional devo deals concluded by the previous administration. Today Akash Paun and I lay out in a new @instituteforgov.bsky.social report how the govt can reach 100% English devolution by the end of the parliament 🧵

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