Rephonic
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
NHS
2024 General Election
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes405Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Latest Episodes

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

How prepared is the government - and how healthy is the economy - for dealing with another energy bill crisis? The podcast team review the prime minister's response and assess the UK's resilience.

The chancellor has delivered a big speech promising ... more

The conflict in the Middle East has already seen Keir Starmer fall out with Donald Trump - but will the economic fallout of war cause even bigger problems for the government?

Former government adviser Tim Leunig joins the podcast to discuss what the... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

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?
Dan Haile
Senior economist at the Institute for Government
Institute for Government
Episode: Can Rachel Reeves protect both households and the public finances from the energy price shock?
Rosa Hodgkin
Senior Researcher in the Policymaking Team, Expert on Energy Resilience
Institute for Government
Episode: Can the UK weather the Middle East storm?
Tim Leunig
Chief Economist at Nesta, former civil servant
Nesta
Episode: Keir Starmer and the cost of security
Karen Bradley
Conservative MP; former Secretary of State; current Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee
Conservative Party
Episode: International Women's Day special: The inside story of life as an MP
Ellie Chowns
Green MP for North Herefordshire; party group leader in Westminster
Green Party
Episode: International Women's Day special: The inside story of life as an MP
Beccy Cooper
Labour MP for Worth West; member of Health and Social Care Committee
Labour Party
Episode: International Women's Day special: The inside story of life as an MP

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 Kingdom5 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 Kingdom8 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 Kingdom9 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 Kingdom9 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
#231
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#1
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#155
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#75
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#81
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#97
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The Trump challenge: Chaos, confusion and government communications
Q: What advice would you give to the BBC Board about covering Trump?
We should apply judgment about what constitutes news, and not treat Trump's statements as breaking news every time.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Week in Westminster
2. Westminster Hour
3. Political Fix
4. Westminster Insider
5. Daily Politics from the New Statesman

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 405 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Nick Butler
2. Emma Pinchbeck
3. Andrew Sissons
4. Dan Haile
5. Rosa Hodgkin
6. Tim Leunig
7. Karen Bradley
8. Ellie Chowns

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days