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Artwork for Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Institute for Government
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
UK Government
Donald Trump
Conservative Party
Civil Service
Rishi Sunak
Brexit
Public Services
NHS
Rachel Reeves
UK Politics
Boris Johnson
Devolution
UK Economy
Local Government
Economic Growth
General Election
Institute For Government
Cost-Of-Living Crisis

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes431Founded7 years ago
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GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Latest Episodes

Foreign secretary Ed Miliband has announced UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. So what does this change of position say about UK foreign policy under Andy Burnham - and what are the possible consequences for UK domestic po... more

The summer recess is over. Parliament is up and running. And the new prime minister gave a mammoth statement in the Commons. There were no new policy announcements, but there was a promise to do things differently. Henry Hill joins the podcast team t... more

Andy Burnham has clocked up a month mark in Number 10. As the long recess draws to a close and Parliament prepares to return, the Guardian's Kiran Stacey joining the podcast to look back on a summer of speeches, policy announcements, guitar-playing a... more

Every new prime minister arrives in No.10 with a view about what brought down their predecessor as well as a ringside seat to the downfall. So after convincing their colleagues why a change of PM is necessary, what happens when the new PM's belief in... more

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Recent Guests

Jill Rutter
IFG senior fellow
Institute for Government
Episode: Totally Rewired - Can Burnham really do government differently?
Kiran Stacey
Policy Editor at The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: Totally Rewired - Can Burnham really do government differently?
Cassia Rowland
Associate Director, expert on criminal justice
Institute for Government
Episode: Totally Rewired - Can Burnham really do government differently?
Matthew Fright
Associate Director, devolution policy
Institute for Government
Episode: Totally Rewired - Can Burnham really do government differently?
Stuart Hoddinott
Associate Director, public services
Institute for Government
Episode: Totally Rewired - Can Burnham really do government differently?
Asa Bennett
Political journalist who provides commentary on Liz Truss and related transitions
The Telegraph (implied)
Episode: Mid-term prime ministers – Episode 2: The Transition
Tom Pope
Chief Economist at IFG
Institute for Government
Episode: Andy Burnham: How is the new prime minister changing the direction of government?
Joshi Herrmann
Founder and editor of the Manchester Mill
Manchester Mill
Episode: He wants to be adored – Burnham’s people-pleasing policy debut
Steph Driver
Downing Street's Director of Communications (2025); former Director of Communications at No.10
No.10/Downing Street
Episode: Full Time for Starmer: Can Burnham Find a Way to Win?

Hosts

Catherine Haddon
Host of Inside Briefing series
Hannah White
Host of Inside Briefing

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 423 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 Kingdom10 months ago
  • Chilling

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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Niky_Noodles
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Interesting

    An interesting listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdoma year 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 Kingdoma year 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 Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the practical, insider perspectives on how Whitehall and No.10 function and reform efforts.
Listeners praise the show for intelligent, non-partisan analysis of government and public policy, with well-chosen guests.
Sound quality and pacing are often cited as strengths, though occasional balance concerns are noted by some listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#2
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#237
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#59
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#77
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#138
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#177
Germany/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Andy Burnham: How is the new prime minister changing the direction of government?
Q: To what extent do you feel the direction Andy Burnham wishes to take the government and his desire for a new economic model will be impeded by his simultaneous commitment to stick to the existing fiscal rules?
The panel argues that while fiscal rules provide a framework, true reform will require broader tax policy changes and careful budgeting; the rules themselves aren't the main constraint, and more significant issues lie in tax policy choices and political feasibility.
May 2026 elections: what are the implications for local government reorganisation?
Q: What are the implications for how this is delivered locally with new leaders taking office?
There will be uncertainty and a strong emphasis on maintaining service delivery while establishing new governance, with a risk that some councillors and officers feel dislocated or pressed to move quickly into transitional duties.
May 2026 elections: what are the implications for local government reorganisation?
Q: Akash, could you walk us through some high-level results from the local elections?
Labour losses across England were substantial, while Reform UK made gains by taking control of several councils; many areas are still forming coalitions or minority administrations, and the overall map is still taking shape.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A thoughtful, policy-forward show that centers on how government works in practice—covering machinery of government, public services, and civil service reform, with a steady stream of interviews from think tanks, journalists, and policy insiders. Episodes frequently dissect devolution, central-local relations, and how leadership transitions shape delivery, often weaving in Brexit-era lessons and contemporary fiscal and governance challenges. A standout feature is the mix of practical governance analysis with insider perspectives from senior officials, researchers, and political commentators, offering clear takes on what's working, what isn't, and how reforms could be implemented more effectively. This combination tends to appeal to listener... more

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1. The Politics Show
2. Political Fix
3. Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
4. Politics Unpacked
5. Politics At Sam and Anne's

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this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 431 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. Jill Rutter
2. Kiran Stacey
3. Cassia Rowland
4. Matthew Fright
5. Stuart Hoddinott
6. Asa Bennett
7. Tom Pope
8. Joshi Herrmann

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