IfG Events

• The Freedom of Information Act at 25: What next for freedom of information?

  The Freedom of Information (FoI) Act – which was passed 25 years ago and came into force five years later – created a legal right for citizens to request information from public authorities. This was a radical shift in the government's approach to information and a significant step towards a more open culture of government. FoI was designed to generate more transparency and to tackle perceived secrecy in government, and it has been a vital tool for journalists, researchers and private citizens alike. However, some politicians have been critical of the burden that FoI requests create, and there are outstanding questions about how the FoI system can be more effective. With FoI requests more than tripling since it was introduced in 2005, this IfG event assessed the state of FoI on its double anniversary – and explored, through a series of proposals and an expert panel discussion, how the system can be improved.  To pitch their proposals for the future of Freedom of Information, the IfG was joined by Jenna Corderoy, Investigative reporter at Democracy for Sale Dr Louise Crow, Chief Executive of mySociety Dr Ben Worthy, Lecturer at Birkbeck University And to discuss the proposals and the FoI system more broadly: John Edwards, Information Commissioner Lord Charlie Falconer, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (2003–07) Lynn Wyeth, Executive Board Member of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, and Executive Board Member of The National Association of Data Protection and Freedom of Information Officers (NADPO)  The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Associate of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  1:30:21

  --------

  1:30:21
• How will Keir Starmer’s No10 reset work?

  The prime minister has made some big changes in No10. Darren Jones moves from the Treasury to take on the newly-created job of chief secretary to the prime minister. A new executive director of communications has been recruited. Minouche Shafik has been appointed as the PM’s economics adviser. And other eye-catching job changes are taking place.   So what does this all say about how Keir Starmer wants to govern? How will Darren Jones’s role dovetail with chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden? Will these changes really equip the centre of government for a “relentless focus on delivery”? And what Institute for Government recommendations should Starmer now adopt as he weighs up further changes to the centre?   Alex Thomas, Hannah Keenan, Gemma Tetlow and Hannah White explain all in this expert Institute for Briefing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  53:01

  --------

  53:01
• IfG DevoLab #1: How devolution can address health inequalities

  The IfG DevoLab is a new Institute for Government initiative dedicated to exploring the innovations enabled by devolution, learning from the results, and sharing the lessons so that places can take better decisions about how to use devolved powers and budgets.     The first ever IfG DevoLab event saw speakers from three regions set out how the powers and profile of mayors are being used to address health inequalities in their regions.   The three case studies being presented at IfG DevoLab #1 were:   ‘Beds for Babies: Safe Space to Sleep’, by Andy Gates, Director of Development, Collaboration and Culture at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority ‘Taking a health in all policies approach’, by Vicky Hobart, Director of Public Health at the Greater London Authority Group. ‘Working Well’, by Thomas Britton, Principal – Contracted Employment Provision at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The three speakers were joined by Peter Babudu, Executive Director of Impact on Urban Health, for a broader discussion of how devolution can improve health outcomes, how the government can support innovation and learning, and whether there is a case for further devolution in this area.   This event, which took place in London and could also be joined online, was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.   Insights from this event informed a published policy briefing containing the three case studies and the key lessons for mayors and local leaders.   This event was kindly supported by Impact on Urban Health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  1:14:33

  --------

  1:14:33
• Spads under Starmer: How can Labour’s special advisers do the job well?

  Special advisers are a vital part of the glue that helps make government work effectively, and since July 2024 more than 100 spads have been appointed by Keir Starmer and his ministers. As well as experiencing the day-to-day challenges that come with one of the most intense jobs in Westminster, the new cohort has also faced ministerial churn, parliamentary rebellion and a change of No.10 chiefs of staff.   So how can special advisers be most effective in government? What are the challenges they face, and how can they deal with them? And how is the current cohort of spads faring in their difficult, and misunderstood, roles?    To discuss how the spads of today (and tomorrow) can do the job well we were joined by:   Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor at the Sunday Times and co-author of Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer Salma Shah, Special Adviser to Sajid Javid (2014–19) Sam White, Special Adviser to Alistair Darling (2004–10) and Chief of Staff to Keir Starmer (2021–22); Chair of Foundations: the national what works centre for children and families   The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  1:02:11

  --------

  1:02:11
• Inside Trump’s America: In conversation with Tim Ryan

  What is driving Donald Trump’s America – and what lessons might the rise of the MAGA movement, and the Democrats’ defeat in the 2024 US presidential election, hold for Keir Starmer and the Labour Party?   Tim Ryan, a former Democrat nominee for President, served in the US House of Representatives for Ohio for over two decades. He ran for President in 2020 and then the US Senate from Ohio in 2022, an election won by JD Vance – the future US Vice President.   On Monday 14 July, Tim Ryan joined Anushka Asthana, Channel 4’s US Editor, at the Institute of Government, to share his experiences of US politics – and what other countries can learn from the rise and return of President Trump. What lies behind the dissatisfaction in US voters that saw Trump return to the White House? How can the Democrats build a vote-winning agenda? And what was it like to face JD Vance – and how influential is the Vice President on Trump’s America?   This event was introduced by IfG Director and CEO Dr Hannah White.   Tim Ryan, the former representative for Ohio, was in London with PPI to champion the Campaign for Working Americans – the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) mission to develop ideas and policy proposals to help the US Democratic Party reconnect with working Americans. Ryan represented Ohio in the US Congress from 2003–23, and ran for the Senate in Ohio in 2022, an election JD Vance won and went on to become US Vice President.    Anushka Asthana joined Channel 4 News in June 2025 as US Editor. She previously worked at ITV News, where she had been Deputy Political Editor since 2021 and co-presented Peston since 2018. Prior to joining ITV, Anushka was joint Political Editor of The Guardian, having worked for Sky, The Times, and The Observer. In 2024, her book, Taken As Red, was published as one of the first accounts of Labour's dramatic election win, with the updated paperback published in June 2025 on Labour’s first year in government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  --------  

  1:05:49

  --------

  1:05:49

More Government podcasts

Trending Government podcasts

About IfG Events

IfG Events: Podcasts in Family