Supporters argued the Brexit would open up opportunities to deregulate in the name of freedom and growth, and remove perceived nonsense like rules on the shape of bananas. But it has not exactly ...

Claiming the UK is ‘ungovernable’ is a dereliction of responsibility, argues Hannah White Governing the UK has become more difficult over the past decade, as a result of major external crises, ...

What happens if the prime minister becomes unavailable? The UK does not have a formal constitutional role of a deputy or caretaker prime minister who would step in should the prime minister be unable ...

NHS staff walking down a hospital corridor. Politicians need to urgently focus on capital investment, staff retention and boosting management capacity. Politicians need to seriously engage with the ...

Partygate refers to the allegations of gatherings and parties taking place in Downing Street and elsewhere in government during the Covid lockdowns in 2020, which contravened the regulations in force ...

When was the Treasury created? The UK Treasury’s history dates back almost a thousand years. Its functions have evolved over this time, reflecting changes in the economy, society and the role of ...

Over the last 14 years, Conservative-led governments oversaw the hollowing out of public services. The effects of this, in particular the deep budget cuts to some services in the first half of the ...

Plans to overhaul the regulation of audit and financial reporting have long been in development and command a broad consensus. Abandoning them reflects poor prioritisation, says Matthew Gill ...

Manchester Metrolink tram leaving Victoria Station in Manchester. The government is right to devolve some key economic policies – such as transport and skills – to mayoral combined authorities. This ...

Prime minister Andy Burnham and mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard speak at an event following the announcement that English mayors will be able to keep a share of the taxes collected in their ...

This report from the Institute for Government, and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, reveals that the government’s inheritance on public services is extremely precarious. Most services are performing ...

Canada, New Zealand and Australia top a brand-new index that ranks countries according to their civil service effectiveness. The International Civil Service Effectiveness (InCiSE) Index draws together ...