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Simon Kaye

@stkaye.bsky.social
2.4K followers 1.5K following 258 posts

Policy Director for @re-state.bsky.social. PhD from King's Political Economy. Localism, democracy, institutions, government. Ostrom stan.

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Reposted by Simon Kaye
Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Machinery of government changes rarely make headlines, but they shape how policy actually gets made. Our Director of Policy & Research @stkaye.bsky.social appeared in front of MPs today to talk about what the recent restructure actually means for technology policy and digital government.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Today we're publishing 'Prescribing place', A new Re:State Scholars paper. The NHS wants to become more preventative, more rooted in neighbourhoods and better connected to the communities it serves. It also wants to retain and develop its Resident Doctors. How? Short 🧵👇
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
🚨New report: A Mid-Career Fast Stream. Today we publish a detailed guide for the Government on how to create a new Mid-Career Fast Stream so that exceptionally talented people from outside the civil service have a dedicated route to apply. re-state.co.uk/publications...
re-state.co.uk
A Mid-Career Fast Stream - Re:State
The challenges facing the public sector are daunting, but for many people that’s why they want to work in government. Civil service roles come with the chance to make a real difference to people's liv...
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Joe Sarling @joesarling.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
This long read by @stkaye.bsky.social is great (HT @oldtrotter.bsky.social) I'd add/emphasise: - institution building needs clear remit *and* org culture - 'doing things differently' demands new faces with new ideas/approaches - needs deep policy experts alongside outstanding system leaders
restate.substack.com
Building No 10 North
A plan to ensure that this is something more than a slice of Whitehall with a Manchester postcode
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
A very long read on how to build a successful No 10 North open.substack.com/pub/restate/...
open.substack.com
Building No 10 North
A plan to ensure that this is something more than a slice of Whitehall with a Manchester postcode
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Charlotte Pickles @charliepickles.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
How do you build No 10 North? PM Burnham has promised to create a new, powerful entity in Manchester to help drive his devo agenda & rebalance power in the country But what should it actually *do* & *how* can Burnham build it? 🧵
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Pete Miles @petermiles.eurosky.social · 13/07/2026
For years (decades even) progressive think-tanks have been developing and publishing proposals for radical change. Devolution, Social Care, 'the quangocracy'... And now there's a window of opportunity, as described here by @simonkaye.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/restate/...
The window of opportunity

Burnham's politics hinges upon the idea that he understands the weightiness of the failure of the current system. People think government is not only inefficient but distant and unresponsive, leaving them unable to change the conditions of their lives.

His answer is to bring government closer to people and places. This is a powerful idea, but it is only a headline.

When Burnham enters Downing Street, he will briefly possess something important: an opportunity to change the rules. The danger is not that 'Manchesterism' is too ambitious to implement, but that in practice it ends up constraining the radicalism that will really be needed.

Burnham is making an argument for fundamental change. He should follow through with policies to match.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
In The MJ, Re:State Director of Policy and Research, Simon Kaye (@stkaye.bsky.social), argues why Andy Burnham should make the case for greater fiscal devolution. Read the full article here: www.themj.co.uk/burnham-devo...
themj.co.uk
Burnham should devolve power just as he has finally seized it
In the midst of political turmoil, a new prime minister arrives promising to do things differently: to break the paralysis in Westminster and prioritise the ‘left...
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
At the heart of our new report is a sequence of recommendations that would transform our country into a far more fiscally decentralised system over the coming years. Treasury is working on a fiscal devo 'roadmap' - here's what the fiscal devo motorway would look like. Not easy... but worthwhile.
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Reposted by Simon Kaye
Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
📢 NEW REPORT📢 🧩 Fiscal devolution is the missing piece of England's devolution agenda. Without genuine fiscal firepower behind it, there is no "devolution revolution". ✈️ In "Taxing for take-off", we set out our blueprint for an ambitious decentralisation of tax power 👇
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
An incredibly important challenge to tackle - for women's health and for the economy.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
The Re:View is out! 🥳 This week our Director of Policy & Research @stkaye.bsky.social writes about the implication of the local election results for the future of devolution. restate.substack.com/p/the-review...
restate.substack.com
The Re:View 8 May 2026
Allow me to be 859th person to welcome you to our new era of genuinely multi-party politics. There will be a lot of ink spilt today on the death of the two big parties,
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
A new civil service code, ready to replace the old one, courtesy of @matthewfeeney.bsky.social @jo3hill.bsky.social, and @charliepickles.bsky.social. re-state.co.uk/publications...
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
📢NEW RESEARCH: ‘Beyond caring’📢 England’s later life social care funding model is on the brink of collapse. The system is unfair and unsustainable. Our new report, launched yesterday, makes the case for a radically different model: a prefunded system with a 'triple guarantee' of protections.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
The cost of state-funded social care is bankrupting local government — and still leaves so many without the support they need.
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Kate Ardern@KateAlvanley @ardernkate.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Very important report on #socialcare funding… from @stkaye.bsky.social @alicesemark.bsky.social @re-state.bsky.social raises some vital questions that need debating and relevant to the Casey review 👇
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Charlotte Pickles @charliepickles.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
The third rail of British politics: social care The utter failure of successive govs to act is a stain on our political class The most recent 'consensus', Dilnot, hasn't been implemented because its the not the answer - its not affordable & fails to address fairness 🧵
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Social care's funding model. You can't reimagine local gov without addressing it. You can't rescue the health system without fixing it. There hasn't really been a new plan for 15 years. But tomorrow that changes. It's report launch eve here again at Re:State towers... and this one's a biggy.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Mayor of the North East Combined Authority Kim McGuinness sets out why, with fiscal devolution on the horizon, now is the right time for the Devo Next Initiative 👇
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Alex Walker @alwalker.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Really excited about this! The English devolution agenda is making progress. But this should not represent the limit of ambition - which is why we're launching 'The Devo Next Initiative' today to define and shape the future of devolution policy.
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
So chuffed to announce this - and to get to work! This new initiative is a chance to define where we want devolution to go next, and where we want the whole agenda to take the country in the decades to come.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
"The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act may open a new chapter for local places and people, but it cannot write it." 📣 NEW: Today Re:State is launching The Devo Next Initiative to define and shape the future of devolution policy. re-state.co.uk/devo-next-in...
re-state.co.uk
The Devo Next Initiative - Re:State
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Pete Miles @petermiles.eurosky.social · 31/03/2026
This looks like an excellent and much-needed initiative to shape where devolution goes next. open.substack.com/pub/restate/...
open.substack.com
Where should devolution go next?
Why we're setting up the Devo Next Initiative to shape the future of English devolution policy
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Thanks for having me on James!
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Budget day means it's also Re:Act day! The Re:State team has been busily reading and analysing today's Budget to bring you a snap analysis that gets behind the spin to get to the deeper changes and their implications.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Very proud of Our Policy Director @jo3hill.bsky.social winning 'Think Tanker of the Year' at last night's inaugural @smartthinking.bsky.social Think Tank Awards Also chuffed to have been named the runner up to the esteemed IFS as Think Tank of the Year.
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Well I mean we don't like to go on about it
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Smart Thinking @smartthinking.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
What was the most read in September? Congrats to @suttontrust.bsky.social HJS @thefabians.bsky.social @pbe.co.uk @instituteforgovernment.org.uk @uniofbathipr.bsky.social @re-state.bsky.social @niesrorg.bsky.social @resfoundation.bsky.social who all had reports feature in this month's top 10! 🎉
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
“Westminster makes a fraud out of good people” – Andy Burnham didn’t hold back in Liverpool.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
In this Re:Think , Policy Director @stkaye.bsky.social explores the key discussion points from our in-person ‘Meetings with Mayors’ event with Mayor Burnham, including his frank assessment of Whitehall and his vision for a more bottom-up politics. re-state.co.uk/rethink/my-c...
re-state.co.uk
My conversation with Andy Burnham, Mayor of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Re:State
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Not one to miss! Come and find us at the Holiday Inn, a stone's throw from the secure zone
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
In our latest Re:Think, Policy Director, @stkaye.bsky.social explores the big themes from our event with Sarah Olney MP at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference last weekend. Check it out here: re-state.co.uk/rethink/libe...
re-state.co.uk
Liberal Democrat party conference: achieving local renewal - Re:State
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
3️⃣...2️⃣...1️⃣ WEEK LEFT... Really looking forward to chairing this. Strategic Authorities are important new players in the vital work of public service reform, with projects like OPSI at Liverpool City Region fostering real innovation. Join us for the discussion in Liverpool on Monday!
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
🚨We are hiring!🚨 This is a role that does not come up very often - an entry-level opportunity to get started in the world of think tanks. Our Research Assistants play a part in every aspect of what we do as a small, fun, hard-working team. Find the details here: re-state.co.uk/opportunity/...
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Joe Hill @jo3hill.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
In the first of our Re:Shuffle series, Dr @stkaye.bsky.social writes his prescription for MHCLG's new management. Few policy researchers have made as much impact with the department on devolution as our Local State team, great to mark the start of a new era with this piece!
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
How much power should mayors really have? Lord Ben Houchen says it’s time to decide. In our latest Re:Think, Policy Director, @stkaye.bsky.social, reflects on his conversation with the Tees Valley Mayor - the latest in our Meetings with Mayors series. Check it out👇 re-state.co.uk/rethink/my-c...
re-state.co.uk
My conversation with Lord Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley - Re:State
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Daniel Reast @danreast.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Fully agree with this great report. Devolving Homes England to mayoral authorities will support place-based partnerships which are vital to build more homes at scale. In London, devolving to the GLA has built thousands of affordable homes in opportunity areas. Absolutely right to roll out further.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
🚨NEW REPORT: 'NEW HOUSE RULES'🚨 Kickstarting housebuilding in England is an enormous challenge. In this report, Re:State makes the case for abolishing the arms length body Homes England and devolving most of its functions to the emerging tier of Strategic Authorities.
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Charlotte Pickles @charliepickles.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
👀 One more sleep... Cracking read from the @re-state.bsky.social Local State team @stkaye.bsky.social If you want ambitious devolution, you can't leave central government machinery as is 👇
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Mutual Ventures @mutualventures.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
📺Catch up on our webinar 'Trusting Place', where guests @stkaye.bsky.social, Kim Wright and Yvonne Reinhardt discussed the findings of our report with Re:State to the Local Government Association on place-based working: www.mutualventures.co.uk/post/trustin...
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Last year our team made the first comprehensive case for an entirely different model of political support, in our flagship paper 'Grown up government'. It's great to see more interest from the research community in this vital topic.
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
A superb piece from Sean.
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Getting this started in an hour! There's still time to register if you would like to join us for a conversation about the future of place-based public services
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
On Friday I wrote, contra Janan Ganesh and @samfr.bsky.social, why the 'Broken Britain' narrative is (basically) legitimate - and represents a hail mary opportunity for policymakers to develop radical ideas equal to the moment. re-state.co.uk/review/revie... (And sign up to our newsletter!)
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Simon Kaye @stkaye.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
THIS LITERALLY DOESN'T HAVE EAST ANGLIA OR THE SOUTH EAST IN IT JOE
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Twlldun @twlldun.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
People getting mad at this and not realising England can be split into two regions - “lost lands to be reconquered by Wales” and “uninhabitable”
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Joe Hill @jo3hill.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
As the great Ronnie Coleman once said, "everybody wants to be a [devolver] but nobody wants to [draw the map]". But luckily @stkaye.bsky.social and @seaneke.bsky.social have! Great to see in our paper, out today. Already picking out which province I want to be the Governor of. Which do you want? 🔗👇
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
NEW: 'Trusting place: Improving the lives of local people through place-based approaches' At a pivotal moment for local services, we joined forces with @mutualventures.bsky.social to outline a new model for @local.gov.uk. 22 proposals, based on engagement with 50+ practitioners and experts.
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
NEW REPORT: Today we have published The Alternative People Survey - a survey of civil servants on questions which aren't covered in the official annual People Survey. In partnership with @civilserviceworld.bsky.social we surveyed over 1,200 civil servants. re-state.co.uk/publications...
re-state.co.uk
Alternative People Survey - Re:State
The civil service is vital to delivering the Government’s priorities – yet it doesn’t have a voice.   Re:State’s Alternative People Survey offers new insights into how civil servants feel about the cu...
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Joe Hill @jo3hill.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Our very own Graham Norton, @stkaye.bsky.social, is doing a tour of the mayors - don’t miss this for the latest news in localism!
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