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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

substack.com/@institutefo... Nice substack from @jackworlidge.bsky.social on why officials should go to Conference. At the least, it may enhance their understanding of what has gone wrong int he world ...

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 25/09/2026

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE | Getting things done: How can government deliver policy priorities? Heading to Liverpool? Join us on Monday 28 September at 10:30 with @davidpintod.bsky.social, James Reeve at PA Consulting, Felicity Slater, @jackworlidge.bsky.social and @hannahkeenan.bsky.social

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 24/09/2026

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE 2026 | Getting things done: How can government deliver policy priorities? 📅 Monday 28 September, 10:30–11:30 Join us in Liverpool as our expert panel explore how Andy Burnham's government can effectively deliver its agenda www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-la...

An image for an IfG event at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

Getting things done: How can government deliver policy priorities?
Monday 28 September | 10:30–11:30
Speakers:

James Reeve, Partner at PA Consulting
Felicity Slater, former special adviser in No.10, Cabinet Office, and HM Treasury
Jack Worlidge, Associate Director at the Institute for Government

This event will be chaired by Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government.

This event is in partnership with PA Consulting.

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Heloise Dunlop @hcdunlop.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Following on from @jackworlidge.bsky.social's analysis, here are a few other interesting things to pull out from this year's civil service stats (1/3)

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

..and there are also 560 of them who were shifted elsewhere in the public sector. We're still trying to work out what that is... but follow @hcdunlop.bsky.social for more!

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

But there was - on the surface at least - far more significant turnover on a departmental level. Technically, half(!) of the cabinet office left. But much of that is explained by machinery of govt changes, like almost 1k staff in GDS moving to DSIT (which we're pretending for now still exists)...

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

There's also been an easing of civil service turnover. Overall, it remains at 9%. The proportion of officals leaving the CS entirely continued to gradually fall, while the proportion moving to a different dept stayed pretty much the same. Providing some welcome stability!

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The government is obviously very fiscally constrained, but civil service pay needs to remain competitive - especially as it moves towards being a smaller and more efficient organisation. CS pay will never compete with the private sector. But at the SCS level in particular, it's still just too low.

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Starting with pay - for individual grades, 2026 saw an easing off of the real terms increases of recent years. AA/AOs still saw an increase, but less than the last couple of years. The most senior grades saw very modest real terms falls. Overall though, the median CS salary rose by 2.4%

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The civil service team at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk has been busy today crunching the numbers of the Cabinet Office's annual civil service statistics release... As ever, plenty of interest! Couple of bits below ⬇️

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Ideal weekend reading.... A huge amount of analysis around the first week of the Burnham government from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk colleagues 👇

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Ben Paxton @drbenpaxton.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

If Burnham wants to do welfare reform, then No.10 must help navigate the big trade-offs (not just leave this to HMT/DWP). Putting senior people in No.10 who understand just how difficult that is should help (Cooke was a DWP adviser with Purnell 2008-09, then DWP SpAd in 2024 before moving to No.10)

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Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

We are hiring - just two weeks to go to apply for this rare senior role at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk working with our brilliant team to make government work better for the people of the UK!

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Ruth Curtice @ruthcurtice.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Ahead of Reeves delivering what most people assume will be her final Mansion House speech we’ve been looking at the data on how the economic picture has changed over the past two years. What is Reeves’ legacy?

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The essential @instituteforgovernment.org.uk take on the Starmer premiership. We look at his record across state reform, public services and more. But also at how he approached being prime minister, where he went wrong and why. Ultimately, a government characterised by missed opportunities.

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 07/07/2026

Nigel Farage has announced that he will resign as an MP and intends to stand in the Clacton by-election. Read our explainer on by-elections to find out how they work: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/by...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

By-elections | Institute for Government

How are by-elections triggered?

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Very timely as the government today confirms that Sir Anthony Finkelstein will lead the review on government's use of WhatsApp and other non-official ways of communicating inside government: www.gov.uk/government/n...

gov.uk

Independent Review of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government

The appointment of an Independent Reviewer of the Use of Non-corporate Communications Channels in Government

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Wouldn't dare to claim as much experience as Ciaran or Gus, and definitely not the two of them together, which is why it's great to see them come to the same conclusion I did for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk a couple of weeks ago: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/usin...

Again, some want to see this as proof that Starmer and his team are behaving in nefarious ways. But government has always relied on communications that are not accessible to all and that leave no formal trace: the spoken word is the original disappearing message. Much of government happens informally, and there are good reasons for lots of information to remain protected. While WhatsApp is the latest technology that facilitates this communication, this will always be a feature of government and it is naïve to expect otherwise. What matters is that ministers take decisions on the basis of detailed advice, and that the nature of that advice and the resulting decision are properly recorded and communicated (and preserved for posterity). Using WhatsApp along the way, even with disappearing messages turned on, is not inherently a problem.

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Also good to see confirmation that the cabinet secretary has written to perm secs to confirm how government operates in these circumstances. Again nothing unusual here - but still useful to see it laid out publicly

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

@cathhaddon.bsky.social and I set out why access talks are so important last week But they still won't have time to go into anything like the detail that oppositions can before general elections www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/pr...

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Preparation for government by opposition parties or leadership challengers | Institute for Government

What is a transition of government?

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Ditto the briefing earlier that Burnham will start to receive security briefings on privy counsellor terms.

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

This is ever so slightly odd because there are no candidates yet - so talks seem to be able to take place before the formal process to replace Starmer has even begun. But, civil service must adapt to political realities - and this is perfectly sensible and appropriate in these odd circumstances.

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Good to see that access talks with Burnham (and other 'prospective candidates'...) have been confirmed today

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Paddy McAlary @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

With another prime minister being forced to resign it is worth looking at the role in the context of recent history Since Brown took power in 2007 there has been seven (soon to be eight) PMs - compare that to the previous 30 odd years where the UK had only 3 PMs @instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Paddy McAlary @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, becoming the latest PM unable to see out a term in office But he won't stop being prime minister just yet - as the process to replace him gets underway Starmer will continue to man the ship as PM (but for how long depends on the Labour leadership contest)

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Cath Haddon @cathhaddon.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

So. Solution they’ve gone for (and Starmer suggested he at least had considered this) is nominations open 9 July and close by recess in third week of July). That’ll be to get the MPs PLUS affiliates/ CLP If no one else nominated then Burnham becomes PM by end of July Or full contest over summer

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

With Burnham's route to No10 looking far clearer, a lot more thought will be going into what he'll do once there. So @cathhaddon.bsky.social and I have set out for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk what prep for government involves & why it's harder for leadership contenders than opposition parties👇

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

And the picture for those depts that have been around since 2010.. There are still four big departments that are smaller than in 2010. But most others have seen huge growth, especially since 2016

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

That ~2,800 quarterly increase was driven by HMRC and MoJ. And the below shows the story over the last 12 months - DSIT has expanded by a fifth.

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

This is where each department now stands on its staffing levels

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

A bit of a side note, today of all days, but @instituteforgovernment.org.uk analysis of yesteday's civil service staff numbers showed the civil service is *still* growing. FTE numbers were up almost 2,800 in Q1 2026 compared to Q4 2025. Very much continuing the trend of recent years

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Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Policy changes create winners and losers It’s a truism that losers complain more than winners are grateful But we’re on a ludicrous path if those who lose out from policy decisions demand and then get compensation That’s a recipe for nothing being decided ever

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Megan Bryer @meganbryer.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Defence secretary John Healey has just resigned over the govt's Defence Investment Plan, writing that it "falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time". We're getting our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk resignation chart fired back up..

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

New data on officials' socio-economic backgrounds out today Despite slight changes, the broad pattern remains - the more senior the grade, the more of them are from higher socio-economic backgrounds. But always very notable just how high that proportion is in the SCS!

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

..which should address things like the (still present in the new pay ranges) huge overlaps between SCS grades. And that review is itself part of an overarching SCS strategy, which we're waiting for. But good progress nonetheless!

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Great news from @darrenpjones.bsky.social today - fantastic to see @instituteforgovernment.org.uk recommendation on performance-related pay progression introduced. This should be just part of a promised 'fundamental review and reset' of the long-broken SCS pay system..

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

It's unfortunate how a political statement of the obvious ('don't cause a contest, nothing will get done because people will be distracted') has been hugely over-interpreted into purdah-type restrictions..

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 13/05/2026

In the King's Speech, it was announced that the government will bring forward proposals to strengthen and improve the civil service. @alexgathomas.bsky.social says this is a huge moment for government reform. 📖 Read our view on how to achieve this www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Occurred to me this morning that the King's Speech debates open with a proposer & seconder from govt backbenches - conventionally one an older party stalwart and one new MP. Those MPs are lined up a long way in advance. You'd hope someone's checked which side they've come down on in recent days...?

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

...but as we @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have found, there's also a risk to over-preparing all the precise detail before you're in govt and can get all the advice and non-public info etc. Either way, interesting to see this much detail at this point in the electoral cycle

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

I was also struck by how detailed this is. It's not necessarily unusual for oppositions to prep for govt to this extent - Labour in 2015 for example did an awful lot of in-depth work..

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Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Really exciting news in the King’s Speech - delighted to see the govt adopting our ideas to legislate to strengthen and improve the civil service. Amid the political turbulence this should be a massive moment for government reform

"My Government will bring forward proposals that strengthen the delivery, accountability, innovation and productivity of the Civil Service. These proposals will also seek to safeguard its impartiality and core values, to enhance trust and confidence in the institutions of government.”

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

I think comparing the Starmer and Johnson lines is useful for defining the word 'herd'

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Shameful that 'he was the future once' was the first thing that came into my head by way of explanation

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

(Incidentally, Labour Growth Group also has some good stuff on civil service reform - including opening it up to outside expertise, stronger performance management, more pay flexibility)

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

So an odd day for these reports to come out, but it's still a very good thing to have different Labour groups recognising the same fundamental problem with the centre And who knows, we might get some movement on it at some point..

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Our full proposals for the centre of government

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Labour Growth Group are also closer to our recommendations on HMT - don't break it up, but remove its effective veto power over the government's programme. And use a powerful Department for the Prime Minister ('and cabinet', in our vision) to broker disputes

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Likewise the welcome proposal for the PM to set out the government's high level priorities and have them translated into specifics (inc budgets) in short order (our proposal for this process below)

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Jack Burrows-Worlidge @jackworlidge.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The Labour Growth Group meanwhile suggests creating a 'powerful department of the prime minister' and dismantling the Cabinet Office - as we suggested in the Commission of the Centre of Government www.labourgrowth.co.uk

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