Episodes

  • May 2026 elections: what are the implications for local government reorganisation?

    May 2026 elections: what are the implications for local government reorganisation?
    May 22 2026
    How has England’s political landscape changed after the May 2026 elections? How will new local leaders go about their new roles? And what does this mean for the delivery of the government’s local government reorganisation (LGR) agenda? In this special episode of Inside Briefing, Matthew Fright, the Institute for Government’s LGR anorak, has been gathering views across three areas - Surrey, Essex and Kent – at the forefront of LGR delivery to see how the government’s aims to remove two-tier local government will be impacted by May’s elections. PLUS: An expert panel to unpick the election results and consider the demanding in-tray facing new local leaders as they get up to speed on this once in a generation transformation of local areas. Featuring: Ed Hammond, Director of Public Sector Audit at Grant Thornton UK Heather Jameson, Editor of MJ Vicky Elliot, Director of the IfG Academy Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution at IfG Plus interviews with: Cllr Tim Oliver OBE, Leader of Surrey County Council Mari Roberts-Wood, Chief Executive of Reigate and Banstead District Council Cllr Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford District Council Cllr Kevin Bentley, former leader of Essex County Council Cllr Linden Kemkaran, Leader of Kent County Council Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council This podcast was produced with the kind support of Grant Thornton UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Burnham Issues

    Burnham Issues
    May 21 2026
    With Andy Burnham inching closer to a return to Westminster, Sam White, Keir Starmer's former chief-of-staff, joins the podcast team to explore what happens next - and what the prime minister can do while this drama plays out around him. If Burnham makes it to Number 10, then he will follow a path once trodden by Boris Johnson in being a mayor turned prime minister. So what skills does the mayoralty provide - and how might they be transferable to Downing Street? Plus: What is in Rachel Reeves's economic support package and will it meet the scale of the Iran crisis? Catherine Haddon presents.With Hannah Keenan and Tom Pope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Starmer, Streeting and the fight for No10

    Starmer, Streeting and the fight for No10
    May 13 2026
    With Keir Starmer's premiership on the rocks, Claire Ainsley - a former adviser to Starmer in opposition - joins the podcast team to make sense of an explosive week in Westminster. Can the PM reassert his authority? How could a leadership contest play out? And what have the bust-ups of the last few days revealed about the failings of Starmer’s premiership - and what can he, or someone else, learn from these mistakes? Plus: On a day of pomp and pageantry, what stood out in the King’s Speech - and how much of it will actually make it onto the statute book? Hannah White presents. With Cath Haddon and Tim Durrant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Elections 2026: Fragmentation nation

    Elections 2026: Fragmentation nation
    May 8 2026
    Keir Starmer and Labour government have just faced their biggest electoral test since the 2024 general election. Reform are on the rise. The SNP have made big gains. And Plaid Cymru are making history in Wales. The consequences for British politics could be huge. So what happens next? What will results mean for who governs in Holyrood? Is Wales ready for a whole new governing party? What will the changes - big changes - to England's electoral map mean for Keir Starmer's prospects? And how significant will Thursday night's votes be for the future of the United Kingdom? Hannah White and Akash Paun present. With Matthew Fright, Harriet Shaw and Megan Isaac. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Is Keir Starmer in the last chance saloon?

    Is Keir Starmer in the last chance saloon?
    Apr 30 2026
    After avoiding an ethics inquiry into the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, what can Keir Starmer do to get the government agenda back on track? James Lyons, former director of communications in Number 10, joins the podcast team to assess the Prime Minister's options as the days count down to a big set of big local and devolved elections. For lessons on relationship rebuilding - and delivering the positive vibes - perhaps the PM should turn to King Charles? The monarch is over in the US, where he seems to be doing a good job of flattering Donald Trump. So is the special relationship special again? Plus: Children’s social care. A new IfG report has dug into a system in crisis, weighed up the government’s reforms, and come up with - what we say is - a better plan. Alex Thomas presents. With Cath Haddon and Amber Dellar. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Starmer vs Robbins: Why the Mandelson row keeps getting worse

    Starmer vs Robbins: Why the Mandelson row keeps getting worse
    Apr 23 2026
    Seven days in, Westminster is still consumed by the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. The PM has had his say. Olly Robbins - the permanent secretary that Starmer dismissed - has also given his account. So where does this leave Keir Starmer? Foreign Office permanent secretary Peter Ricketts joins the podcast team to work out where a week of blame and counter-blame has left the government - and what it means for an already damaged relationship between civil servants and ministers. Plus: new IfG research on how civil servants should handle policy making in major crises. Hosted by Hannah White. With Alex Thomas, Cath Haddon, and Vimbai Dzimwasha. Produced by Milo Hynes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • The Peter Mandelson scandal: What are the lessons for Keir Starmer's government?

    The Peter Mandelson scandal: What are the lessons for Keir Starmer's government?
    Apr 22 2026
    The government is reeling from the revelation that Peter Mandelson was appointed as UK ambassador to the US despite having failed a security vetting process. With the blame-game dominating the week in Westminster, what will we learn from Keir Starmer's 'judgment day' Commons statement? What will Olly Robbins – who was sacked by the PM as Foreign Office permanent secretary – reveal in a crucial select committee appearance? What has the vetting row shown about the way decisions are made at the top of government? How should the vetting and appointments process be overhauled? And what does this row mean for relations between civil servants and ministers? An IfG expert webinar answered these questions and more. The webinar featured: Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Is the UK (and Keir Starmer) under attack?

    Is the UK (and Keir Starmer) under attack?
    Apr 16 2026
    "We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe." George Robertson, former defence secretary and co-author of the government's strategic defence review, has issued a stark warning about Britain's national security. So how serious is it - and what should Keir Starmer do? PLUS: From defence to employment. A new IfG paper argues the government should go further and faster on devolving employment support - we talk to its authors about a potentially better route back into work. Hannah White presents. With Jill Rutter, Ben Paxton and Martha Ford. Produced by Milo Hynes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins