Best Governme Podcasts (2024)

1
How can public spending do better at improving wellbeing? 1:01:05

1h ago1:01:05

1:01:05

Spending reviews, which decide how at least half a trillion pounds of annual public spending should be allocated across different public services, are one of the most consequential processes in government. The new government has announced a new review, to conclude in Spring 2025, that will determine departmental budgets for much of the current parl…

1
Labour's public spending inheritance: What is Rachel Reeves' plan? 1:01:19

1M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

The chancellor has set out her audit of public spending to MPs. Revealing what she calls a multi-billion pound “black hole” in the government finances, Rachel Reeves has vowed “to fix the mess we inherited” from the Conservative government.So do these sums add up and what do they mean for public services? Should this inheritance come as a surprise …

1
What should the Labour government’s public service priorities be? 57:48

1M ago57:48

57:48

A daunting public services to-do list awaits Keir Starmer and his newly-elected Labour government. Most services are performing worse than on the eve of the pandemic and substantially worse than in 2010, but future funding is set to be tight. Ministers will need to make best use of existing budgets and carefully choose targets for any additional in…

1
Episode 26: Episode (PART 4) “Exposing the United Nations , Illuminati, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) The World Economic Forum (WEF) And "The Council". The Global Takeover In Progress. Their Final ... 2:50:00

18d ago2:50:00

2:50:00

Welcome to This Special Edition Of The Pulse News Podcast Editorial, Commentary, News And Information Podcast With Dave Anthony, at WAFRN.com, The Pulse News Podcast News Desk, Pulse News Podcast Breaking News Reports. On This Important Special Food For Thought Episode, Exposing The Globalist U.N. One Party Marxist Democracy New World Order Program…

1
The King’s Speech: What does it reveal about Keir Starmer’s priorities for government? 57:11

2M ago57:11

57:11

The King’s Speech on 17 July set out Sir Keir Starmer’s legislative agenda for government and revealed his priorities for the parliamentary session.While Labour’s attention and resources have been focused on the general election campaign, Starmer and his team will also have been preparing for this major constitutional moment. Legislation to nationa…

1
How can the government rethink the approach to public services capital spending? 1:07:49

2M ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Since 2010 the UK’s capital spending on prisons, hospitals and schools has been consistently lower than many other countries – leading to crumbling buildings, creaking IT and a lack of equipment. But the size of the budgets is only part of the problem – these budgets have also been badly spent.This will continue to hamper public service performance…

1
How can new ministers be supported to succeed in government? 1:04:38

2M ago1:04:38

1:04:38

A general election brings the appointment of a whole host of new ministers, and on day one in government they begin a job like no other.Former shadow ministers may be familiar with their new policy portfolio, but ministerial life is very different to opposition. The switch from leading a small team to heading up departments with hundreds or thousan…

1
Keir Starmer's plan for government: How will it work? 1:02:28

2M ago1:02:28

1:02:28

Keir Starmer used his first speech as prime minister to declare that the “work of change begins immediately”. But how will the Labour government approach the complex policy challenges that it has inherited? And how will it start making progress on new promises? From freeing up space in crowded prisons to turning around struggling public services, d…

1
Inside Briefing LIVE: The day after the 2024 general election 37:33

2M ago37:33

37:33

Follow our live-blog for all our general election coverage: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/general-election-2024We hosted a special livestreamed recording of the Institute for Government podcast, as a team of IfG experts – bleary eyed but full of coffee – gathered in the podcast studio to make sense of a momentous night in Brit…

1
General election 2024: What happens on day one for a new government? 1:02:25

2M ago1:02:25

1:02:25

This Friday will be day one in government for the winner of the general election. But there will be no chance for anyone to catch their breath after a gruelling campaign. The job begins at once.So what should civil servants be braced to expect as ministers are appointed to their new roles? How can special advisers best prepare for that frenetic fir…

1
Preparing for Power – Episode 6: First days in government 47:22

2M ago47:22

47:22

Episode 6 explores the first days, weeks and months of a new government. We speak to those who've entered No.10 alongside the prime minister on day one, found themselves suddenly running a government department, or have welcomed a brand new political team into office as a senior civil servant, including: Ed Balls, Jonathan Powell, Gus O'Donnell, Ha…

1
Preparing for Power – Episode 5: Making manifestos 27:12

2M ago27:12

27:12

Episode 5 explores the role that manifestos play in – and after – an election campaign. How do political parties write their manifestos? What does a good manifesto look like? What are the questions that Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will be considering when signing off on their manifestos for the 2024 general election? And how hard is it to deliver …

1
Preparing for Power – Episode 4: The governing party 28:50

2M ago28:50

28:50

Episode 4 explores how the governing party prepares for an election while continuing to govern, with ministers, civil servants and special advisers – including Oliver Letwin, Harriet Harman, Gus O'Donnell, Polly Mackenzie and Nick Macpherson – revealing how they approached the work of government during an election campaign.How does a governing part…

1
Preparing for Power - Episode 3: The opposition 27:52

2M ago27:52

27:52

Episode 3 explores how opposition parties prepare for a potential transition of government, with ministers, civil servants and advisers, including Jonathan Powell, Harriet Harman, Gus O’Donnell and Oliver Letwin, revealing how they got ready for the possibility of a change of government.How does an opposition develop policies that would actually wo…

1
Preparing for Power – Episode 2: The civil service 23:12

2M ago23:12

23:12

Episode 2 explores how the civil service prepares for a potential transition of government, with five former permanent secretaries revealing how they readied themselves and their departments for a potential change in their political bosses.How does Whitehall prepare for a change in the party in power? What can civil servants do to get ready for a h…

1
Preparing for Power – Episode 1: Access talks 21:01

2M ago21:01

21:01

Whoever forms the next government will need to be prepared. The job begins almost as soon as the votes have been counted.So what is it like to go from opposition to government overnight? How do civil servants get ready for the possibility of a transition of power or a hung parliament? And what is it like for a governing party to continue in power a…

1
General election 2024: What would a 'supermajority' really mean for parliament? 1:00:56

2M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

The Conservatives have been warning voters of the 'dangers' of Labour winning a huge – or 'super' – majority at the general election on Thursday. But what exactly is a supermajority, and do these warnings add up?With just under a week to go until polling day, this Institute for Government webinar explores the Conservatives' claims – and set out wha…

1
General election 2024: What are the public finance challenges facing the next government? 54:08

2M ago54:08

54:08

Despite historically large tax increases since 2019, the current government’s plans imply debt continuing to rise for several years and only barely beginning to fall in five years’ time – and then only on the basis of implausible plans for public spending and rises in fuel duty that no government since 2011 has managed to implement. Drawing on Ipso…

1
General election 2024: How are public services performing across the country? 1:00:55

3M ago1:00:55

1:00:55

Public services are a key election battleground. The NHS is consistently cited in surveys as one of the top two issues facing the country, while social care and schools have played a critical role in deciding recent elections. Rishi Sunak made improving NHS performance one of his key pledges, Keir Starmer included healthcare and schools in his six …

1
General election 2024: What is in the Labour manifesto? 47:03

3M ago47:03

47:03

Manifesto launches are a significant moment in any general election campaign, and Thursday’s publication of Labour’s manifesto is a big chance for Keir Starmer to set out how his party would govern if it wins the general election on 4 July.So how plausible are the manifesto’s plans? What are the big dividing lines with the Conservatives? How would …

1
General election 2024: What is in the Conservative manifesto? 44:03

3M ago44:03

44:03

Manifesto launches are a significant moment in any general election campaign, and Tuesday’s publication of the Conservative manifesto is a big opportunity for Rishi Sunak’s party to set out its vision for government if it wins the general election on 4 July.So what are the flagship policies? Do the tax and spending numbers add up? How plausible and…

1
General election 2024: What should civil servants do during the general election campaign? 1:00:16

3M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

With attention focused on politicians, and politicians focused on winning votes, a general election campaign is an unusual time for civil servants. Their top priority remains serving the government of the day, but they must also prepare for a potential transition of power, and be ready to work with whoever forms the next government. Civil service a…

1
Productivity Pitches #3: Health and social care 1:15:13

3M ago1:15:13

1:15:13

So what can be done to improve productivity? By highlighting outstanding examples of innovation across public services, Productivity Pitches, a new series of events hosted by the IfG, aims to share and support ways to improve performance levels. This event was the third in the series and focussed on health and social care. Each speaker had 10 minut…

1
How can the government move to a preventative approach to public services? 1:04:31

4M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

Preventative public services are designed to deal with problems before they develop, or before they become more complicated to manage. Evidence suggests that children in particular benefit from investment whether that’s in the early years, or earlier in their life cycle, helping to prevent problems from determining their outcomes later in life. The…

1
Keynote speech: Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary 1:02:47

4M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

The Rt Hon David Lammy MP set out how a foreign policy lens of 'progressive realism' might affect the practice of diplomacy, should Labour win the election.The discussion covered the evolution of the Foreign Office as an institution, under both Labour and Conservative governments. It focused in particular on the balance between traditional diplomat…

1
Parliament and regulators: How can scrutiny be improved? 1:10:34

4M ago1:10:34

1:10:34

Parliament and regulators: How can scrutiny be improved? by Institute for GovernmentBy Institute for Government

1
Keynote speech: Lucy Powell MP, Shadow Leader of the Commons 1:00:37

4M ago1:00:37

1:00:37

The Institute for Government welcomed Lucy Powell MP, the Shadow Leader of the Commons, to give a keynote speech on how a Labour government would approach parliament, the legislative process, and the role of MPs. With Westminster hit by a series of scandals in recent years, what can be done to restore parliament's image? How can the legislative pro…

1
General election: What makes a successful communications strategy? 1:09:03

4M ago1:09:03

1:09:03

General election: What makes a successful communications strategy? by Institute for GovernmentBy Institute for Government

1
Bringing in the best: How can the civil service recruit and retain top talent? 1:00:46

4M ago1:00:46

1:00:46

The success of the civil service has always depended on the recruitment and retention of exceptional individuals – and this means bringing in talented outsiders with particular skills and capabilities.It is 170 years since the Northcote-Trevelyan report argued that people “of the highest abilities should be selected for the highest posts” in Whiteh…

1
Local and mayoral elections 2024: Why they matter and what to look out for 1:00:53

4M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

On Thursday 2 May 2024, voters across England and Wales will head to the polls in a major set of local and mayoral elections. The highest-profile contests will be the election of 10 influential metro mayors – including in Greater London and across the north and the midlands. Together these leaders will be responsible for over £25bn of public spendi…

1
Does London need a new devolution deal? 1:10:01

4M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

The establishment of the mayor of London and the London Assembly in 2000 was a milestone moment for English devolution. With a budget of over £20bn and responsibility for key functions – including transport, policing and economic development – the mayor of London is one of the most powerful and high-profile figures in British politics.The UK govern…

1
Beyond the dark arts: what next for the Whips’ Office? 1:04:29

4M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

From little black books to pet tarantulas, MPs being dragged out of ambulances to vote and tantalising promises of ministerial office, the alleged ‘dark arts’ of the government Whips’ Office have a fearsome reputation. But in reality a government whip is an important conduit between backbenchers and No.10, while also playing an increasingly large r…

1
General election: How can the parties improve ethical standards in government? 1:13:57

4M ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Trust in government and politicians continues to fall, and this parliament has seen many ethical scandals, from partygate to bullying. Over the last few years, various organisations including the IfG have called for major reforms to the way ethical standards are upheld in public life, but the government has only made piecemeal changes. Labour has c…

1
General election: What role does polling play in shaping political strategy? 1:04:20

5M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

Less than a year out from a general election, the significance of opinion polls in shaping public perception and political strategy is increasingly prominent. Political pundits, parties, journalists and members of the public look to opinion polls to give them a picture of what people are thinking about parties and politicians, their priorities and …

1
Keynote speech: Lord McFall of Alcluith, Lord Speaker 1:09:21

5M ago1:09:21

1:09:21

The question of how to reform the House of Lords dominates discussions about the upper house, with less attention focused on its day-to-day activities. Since his election as Lord Speaker in 2021, Lord McFall of Alcluith has sought to champion its important role of revising legislation and advising the government, while ensuring the Lords remains on…

1
General election: How big a threat is AI and disinformation to elections in 2024? 1:10:32

5M ago1:10:32

1:10:32

AI-generated ‘deepfake’ audio clips of both London mayor Sadiq Khan and leader of the opposition Sir Keir Starmer have circulated on social media. A faked robocall impersonating Joe Biden was sent to voters before a primary election. The number of AI-enhanced images of politicians is increasing.In a year when over two billion people in more than 50…

1
Inside Briefing LIVE -The General Election Budget 40:28

5M ago40:28

40:28

Just a few hours after Jeremy Hunt sets out his spring budget, a team of Institute for Government experts gathered in the IfG studio to record a special edition of the Inside Briefing podcast. Olly Bartrum, Jill Rutter, Dr Gemma Tetlow and Giles Wilkes gave their instant reaction to the budget and shared expert analysis of a major day for the count…

1
How can public sector strikes be solved more effectively? 59:47

6M ago59:47

59:47

Public services have faced the greatest level of disruption from strikes in more than a quarter of a century. Over the past year nurses, ambulance drivers, teachers, junior doctors, consultants, and civil servants, among others, have all staged walkouts to protest against pay and working conditions.While improved pay offers from Rishi Sunak’s gover…

1
Does the Treasury wield too much power over government? 1:17:23

6M ago1:17:23

1:17:23

The Treasury is perhaps the most powerful department in Whitehall. Its ownership of public spending means it has direct control over the money available to the rest of government, while the Treasury’s responsibility for tax policy gives it enormous influence over the finances of households and businesses.But criticism of the department’s influence …

1
Data Bites #49: Getting things done with data in government 1:31:46

6M ago1:31:46

1:31:46

Better use of data is key to more effective government. Across government, teams are doing fascinating work with data. But those projects don’t get the attention they deserve. Data Bites aims to change that. This event was the 49th in our series, where the speakers present their work in an exciting, quickfire format.…

1
How can government tackle fraud? 58:27

6M ago58:27

58:27

Fraud is the UK’s most common crime. But despite 3.5 million incidents reported in 2022/23, 40% of all reported crimes, only one in a thousand results in a charge or summons. So why is there such a huge gap between preventing, detecting and prosecuting this crime – and what can be done to fix the problem?A wide range of organisations have responsib…

1
In conversation with Alex Chisholm 51:03

6M ago51:03

51:03

As he prepares to step down as Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office, Alex Chisholm spoke at the Institute for Government for his final time as a civil servant. During nearly a decade at the top of the civil service as a permanent secretary, Alex served four prime ministers and worked with thre…

1
How can government improve its approach to asylum policy making? 1:17:27

6M ago1:17:27

1:17:27

The future of the UK asylum system could dominate the 2024 general election campaign. The prime minister has made his controversial Rwanda plan a flagship part of the government’s agenda, while Labour has committed to reforming the asylum system as part of its plan to tackle Channel crossings. Rishi Sunak pledged to clear the legacy asylum backlog …

1
General election: How can think tanks shape policy and political debate? 49:32

6M ago49:32

49:32

Political parties are increasingly focusing their energy and resources on the approaching general election campaign. The pace will be relentless. The atmosphere will be increasingly fraught. So as the campaign intensifies, how can think tanks make themselves heard – and help to shape policy and political debate?A dramatic – and sometimes chaotic – …

1
Fixing the centre of government 1:25:18

6M ago1:25:18

1:25:18

Fixing the centre of government by Institute for GovernmentBy Institute for Government

1
Data Bites #48: Getting things done with data in government - smart data special 1:22:32

6M ago1:22:32

1:22:32

Data Bites #48: Getting things done with data in government - smart data special by Institute for GovernmentBy Institute for Government

1
General election: What makes a good manifesto? 57:43

6M ago57:43

57:43

With the general election less than a year away, the Conservatives, Labour and all other political parties are drawing up their manifestos. Scrutinised by the media and voters, manifestos can shape debate, shift the polls, and play a major part in an election campaign – and shape what the winning part does in government.While manifestos are describ…

1
Productivity Pitches #2: criminal justice and law enforcement 1:15:19

6M ago1:15:19

1:15:19

Productivity Pitches #2: criminal justice and law enforcement by Institute for GovernmentBy Institute for Government

1
Inside the Political Mind: How the human side of politics shapes behaviour 1:09:43

7M ago1:09:43

1:09:43

Inside the Political Mind: How the human side of politics shapes behaviour by Institute for GovernmentBy Institute for Government

1
In conversation with Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP 1:01:23

7M ago1:01:23

1:01:23

Former deputy prime minister, health secretary and environment secretary Thérèse Coffey joined us at the Institute for Government to reflect on her nine years as government minister.https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/therese-coffeyBy Institute for Government

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