

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
Institute for Government
The first Labour government in 14 years is facing a daunting to-do list and complex challenges at every turn. Public services are under strain. The civil service is under pressure. And ministers must deliver the government’s missions and milestones. But could Keir Starmer’s plan to “rewire the British state” – through using AI and creating a “start-up” culture – turn these challenges into opportunities?So where is government working well and what is it doing badly? What can be done to make No10, the Treasury and the rest of government function more effectively? What can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves do to achieve faster economic growth? What will Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives and the other opposition parties do to hold the government to account? How might Donald Trump shape British politics – and how could the UK’s relations with the EU change in the years ahead?Get behind the scenes in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond on the weekly podcast from Britain’s leading governmental think tank, where we analyse the latest events in politics and explain what they mean. Every week on Inside Briefing, IfG director Hannah White and the team welcomes special guests for a thought-provoking conversation on what makes government work – and how to fix it when it doesn’t.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 15, 2023 • 33min
Plane speaking with the PM
The podcast team dissect Rishi Sunak's appearance at the G20 summit in India - and Daily Mirror political editor John Stevens reveals what it's really like to join the prime minister on the plane for a foreign trip.Westminster has been rocked by a spy scandal - but should MPs really be that surprised?Plus: Is central government set up to deliver the government's 'levelling up' pledge - or Labour's plans for 'real life levelling up'? A new IfG report has the answers - and passes judgment.Hannah White presents. With Alex Thomas and Rebecca McKee.Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 9, 2023 • 29min
Concrete Evidence
Keir Starmer has reshuffled his team of shadow ministers. So who’s up? Who’s down? Is this the march of the Blairites? And what does the reshuffle reveal about Starmer’s plans for the general election campaign – or for government should Labour win? The Guardian’s Aletha Adu joins the IfG podcast team to run the rule over the new shadow cabinet. The concrete crisis in schools has placed education secretary Gillian Keegan under pressure – with the education secretary’s comments also landing her in hot water. So who is to blame, how has the government handled the fall-out, and how could the problem be fixed? PLUS: A very bad week for Birmingham City Council. So why are city councils running out of money? What does it mean for the people who live there? And how can the government make sure this doesn’t happen again? Hannah White presents. With Nick Davies and Sam Freedman. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 7, 2023 • 23min
Special: Becoming A Minister Part 6 - Parliament
Former ministers and civil servants discuss the challenges of being a government minister, including managing time, working with civil servants, and handling a departmental budget. The significance of Parliament in ministers' lives is explored, along with tips for managing its pressures. Various ministerial roles and their involvement in Parliament are discussed, as well as the importance of prioritizing parliamentary responsibilities. The chapter also emphasizes the role of civil servants in supporting ministers in the legislative process and the nerve-wracking nature of answering oral questions in Parliament.

Sep 1, 2023 • 31min
The Rishi Reshuffle
Summer is nearly over. Parliament is set to return. And the Inside Briefing team is back to take stock of the last few months – and look ahead to what a lively couple of months might bring. Ben Wallace is out, Grant Shapps is the new defence secretary, and Claire Coutinho has become the youngest member of the cabinet. But what does Rishi Sunak’s mini-reshuffle tell us about his priorities for government – and is there a better way to go about appointing government ministers? What should we look out for at the party conference season? How is the economy faring and are tax cuts at all likely? And what stage of the Nando’s spice scale is politics going to hit this autumn? Hannah White presents.With Joe Owen, Cath Haddon and Tom Pope.Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 31, 2023 • 20min
Special: Becoming A Minister Part 5 - Managing budgets and working with the Treasury
Former ministers and civil servants discuss the challenges of managing budgets and working with the Treasury. They highlight the importance of understanding departmental finances, making difficult decisions on spending, and effective resource allocation. Tips for securing funding and navigating high stakes meetings are shared. Preparation and communication are key in handling budgets and working with the Treasury.

Aug 25, 2023 • 17min
Special: Becoming A Minister Part 4 – Working with Number 10
Former ministers and civil servants discuss the importance of a good working relationship with Number 10, the impact of pre-existing relationships on ministers and government reforms, officials and departments working with Number 10, and the experiences of working with special advisors in the Prime Minister's office.

Aug 18, 2023 • 24min
Special: Becoming A Minister Part 3 – Working with the civil service
There is no job quite like that of a government minister – and no training manual for how to do it. So what happens on the first day in the job? How can ministers manager the demands on their time? Are particular skills needed to get the best out of civil servants? Is there a trick to working with Number 10? What is the best way to handle a multi-billion pound departmental budget? And how can ministers master the art of navigating parliament?In this special six-part series from the Institute for Government, former ministers and civil servants reveal what it is really like to hold ministerial office and how to do the job well. You will hear all about the challenges, confusion, decisions and drama of a job which really is like no other.Presented by Tim Durrant, with Dr Nicola Blacklaws. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 11, 2023 • 19min
Special: Becoming A Minister Part 2 – The day-to-day reality
There is no job quite like that of a government minister – and no training manual for how to do it. So what happens on the first day in the job? How can ministers manager the demands on their time? Are particular skills needed to get the best out of civil servants? Is there a trick to working with Number 10? W hat is the best way to handle a multi-billion pound departmental budget? And how can ministers master the art of navigating parliament?In this special six-part series from the Institute for Government, former ministers and civil servants reveal what it is really like to hold ministerial office and how to do the job well. You will hear all about the challenges, confusion, decisions and drama of a job which really is like no other.Presented by Tim Durrant, with Beatrice Barr. Produced by Milo Hynes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 3, 2023 • 16min
Special: Becoming A Minister Part 1 – The first day
There is no job quite like that of a government minister – and no training manual for how to do it. So what happens on the first day in the job? How can ministers manager the demands on their time? Are particular skills needed to get the best out of civil servants? Is there a trick to working with Number 10? What is the best way to handle a multi-billion pound departmental budget? And how can ministers master the art of navigating parliament?In this special six-part series from the Institute for Government, former ministers and civil servants reveal what it is really like to hold ministerial office and how to do the job well. You will hear all about the challenges, confusion, decisions and drama of a job which really is like no other.Presented by Tim Durrant, with Beatrice Barr. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 27, 2023 • 28min
The Recess Digest
Some MPs are rarely seen in the Commons. Others can’t seem to stay away from the chamber. So what happens in those 45 days when the Palace of Westminster shuts up shop? This week on the podcast, former Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Labour peer Baroness Armstrong join Cath Haddon and Alice Lilly of the IFG to reveal just how switched off parliamentarians can be on their summer break. Stay tuned to the Inside Briefing feed for more podcasts during the summer recess, including a 6-part series on what it’s like to be a government minister.Produced by Alex Rees at Podmasters for the Institute of Government Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


