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Artwork for Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Institute for Government
Rishi Sunak
UK Politics
Labour Party
Conservative Party
Keir Starmer
Brexit
Boris Johnson
Civil Service
2024 General Election
NHS
Post Office Scandal
COVID
Cost-Of-Living Crisis
Northern Ireland
Government Transition
COVID Inquiry
Geopolitics
Horizon Software
Rwanda Bill
Government Transparency

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 opportun... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes407Founded7 years ago
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GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Latest Episodes

"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... more

Oil is in short supply as the Middle East conflict continues. Donald Trump has told the UK to “build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.” Economist Duncan Weldon joins the pod team to discuss what the government can actually ... more

What should the government do about overseas election funding and cryptocurrency donations? Philip Rycroft, who ran the newly-published Rycroft Review into foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics, joins the podcast team to explain... more

As war in the Middle East disrupts energy markets across the world, what are the implications for households and businesses in the UK and how should government respond to the price shock?

This IfG webinar explored Rachel Reeves’s options for support... more

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Recent Guests

Martha Ford
IFG Senior Researcher, co-author of the new paper on ill health inactivity
Institute for Government
Episode: Is the UK (and Keir Starmer) under attack?
Ben Paxton
IFG Senior Researcher
Institute for Government
Episode: Is the UK (and Keir Starmer) under attack?
Stephen Bush
Associate Editor at the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: Is the UK (and Keir Starmer) under attack?
Duncan Weldon
Economist, journalist, author
Independent (also writes on economics of conflict)
Episode: Who will pay the prices of war?
Philip Rycroft
Author of the government review into foreign interference; former permanent secretary
Former government official; Institute for Government interviewee
Episode: Money talks: Influence and interference
Kath Haddon
Senior fellow
Institute for Government
Episode: Money talks: Influence and interference
Nick Butler
Former head of strategy for BP; former senior policy adviser in No.10 to Gordon Brown
Institute for Government panelist
Episode: Can Rachel Reeves protect both households and the public finances from the energy price shock?
Emma Pinchbeck
Former chief executive of Energy UK; current CEO Climate Change Committee
Climate Change Committee
Episode: Can Rachel Reeves protect both households and the public finances from the energy price shock?
Andrew Sissons
Director of the Sustainable Future Mission at Nesta
Nesta
Episode: Can Rachel Reeves protect both households and the public finances from the energy price shock?

Hosts

Hannah White
Host on Inside Briefing with extensive Institute for Government leadership and governance expertise
Alex Thomas
Executive Director / policy expert contributing to governance and public policy analysis
Catherine Haddon
Institute for Government senior fellow; contributor to governance education and public policy analysis

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 422 ratings
  • Misleading title

    It’s very misleading to call an episode ‘Home Office truths with Shabana Mahmood’ only for it not to feature her!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    anotherpod
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Chilling

    Chilling episode on ministers, they’re so unqualified, our system is nuts!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Niky_Noodles
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Interesting

    An interesting listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • 5 stars just aren’t enough

    If you want a podcast that oozes intelligence; informedness; nuance; and courtesy, look no further. It’s hard to exaggerate the high quality of this. Perhaps what you’d expect from the IFG. Please subscribe and tell your friends and take a deep dive into the website. An absolute essential if you want to begin understand our fiendishly complex world. I promise I’m not on commission. Thank you IFG.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michael Coxon
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Stop saying “sort of”

    Just had to give up again on a potentially interesting episode because one of the participants can hardly get through a sentence without stuffing in a “ sort of”. Like “kind of” it can have the function of conveying fuzziness. But mostly it now seems to be used by experts to avoid sounding too expert or as a substitute for “ you know” or “ like” when someone doesn’t exactly know what they want to say. The IFG is particularly prone to including speakers who say “sort of stop” or“sort of decide” ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Lacwn
    United Kingdom10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners repeatedly praise the depth and nonpartisan tone, calling it essential for understanding government mechanics.
Some critiques note sound quality issues and occasional calls for stronger balance in debates.
Guests and hosts are valued for their practical insights and thoughtful moderation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#1
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#150
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#16
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#60
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#62
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#147
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Money talks: Influence and interference
Q: How should the centre of government respond to ensure reforms across NHS, local government, and policing are coherent?
Create a stronger central vision and governance mechanism, pause or slow some reforms to allow cross-department alignment, and establish a cabinet-level forum (e.g., Chief Secretary to the PM) to coordinate priorities and measure progress against a unified reform package.
Keir Starmer's Mandelson Scandal
Q: Alex, looking forward, what do you think the effect of this is going to be on Starmer's agenda?
The government may struggle to navigate this political distraction effectively, leaving Starmer vulnerable as it could gum up the decision-making processes in light of the urgency before the upcoming elections.
Keir Starmer's Mandelson Scandal
Q: Jim, bringing this into the current politics, what is your take on how significant these emerging events are?
While it's clearly a major scandal for Mandelson, it's also crucial for Keir Starmer's political judgment regarding the appointment and management of his former ally as the situation unfolds, casting a shadow over Starmer's leadership.
Keir Starmer's Mandelson Scandal
Q: Alex, just on that point, what we have heard reported, I think, is that the Cabinet Secretary just sort of went back to Gordon Brown and said, we haven't got anything on this. Does that now seem like a curiously low-key response to that sort of allegation?
The nature of the investigation seems curiously low-key, as there might have been pressure to find nothing substantial about Mandelson's involvement with Epstein, reflecting the bureaucratic nature of how scandals are typically managed in government.
Keir Starmer's Mandelson Scandal
Q: Jim, you've been across it from the start. Just update us, where are we now and how did we get here?
The relationship between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein was already partially known and it has emerged that Mandelson stayed at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse while Epstein was imprisoned, linking them directly and prompting further investigation into their dealings.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show centers on the mechanics of government, public policy, and parliamentary dynamics, with discussions spanning civil service reform, health and education policy, fiscal strategy, and national security. Thinktank insight and senior political reporting combine to unpack how decisions are made, what reforms are feasible, and how political leadership interacts with institutions. Notable traits include a nonpartisan bent, deep dives from seasoned officials and analysts, and a focus on practical governance improvements, making it valuable for listeners who want to understand how government works and how to fix it when it doesn't.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Week in Westminster
2. Westminster Hour
3. Political Fix
4. Political Currency
5. Westminster Insider

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this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 407 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Martha Ford
2. Ben Paxton
3. Stephen Bush
4. Duncan Weldon
5. Philip Rycroft
6. Kath Haddon
7. Nick Butler
8. Emma Pinchbeck

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