Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 19h

EVENT | Productivity Pitches #8: Spreading innovation across public services

📅 Tuesday 21 October, 12:30-13:45

Join us for the eighth edition of #ProductivityPitches with Foundations, the What Works Centre and @local.gov.uk.

Register to attend www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/produc...

Productivity Pitches #8: Spreading innovation across public services

Tuesday 21 October 2025, 12:30 — 13:45 (GMT)

2 4

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 20h

EVENT | Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government?

This event, featuring Baroness Stuart, will explore the Civil Service Commission’s role in recruiting senior leaders and developing talent.

🎟️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/leader...

1 1 1

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 23h

The government will consult on whether children aged between 13 and 16 years old should be included in the roll-out of digital IDs.

Our explainer takes a closer look at how digital ID works and why it's back on the political agenda www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/di...

Digital ID cards | Institute for Government

The introduction of ID cards has been debated in Westminster for decades.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

4 3

Reposted by Institute for Government

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · 23h

Interesting to see crime and justice listed as one of the top 3 issues — I suspect it’s more crime than justice but would love to know if that’s true!

Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 1d

Really interesting- and, I think, welcome- to see MPs sharing this kind of data about casework.

Casework is largely invisible (other than to the constituents it helps!) compared to what MPs do in the Commons chamber but is a huge part of MPs’ workload, and it’s really hard to get robust data on it

Dr Beccy Cooper MP @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social · 1d

2 2 8

Reposted by Institute for Government

Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 1d

One for the diaries - an upcoming IfG DevoLab event in Birmingham with a stellar panel exploring how mayors and strategic authorities have driven investment and regeneration across England's regions.

Full (in person and online) sign up details below.

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

IfG DevoLab #2: How can mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies?

Join us in Birmingham to explore how mayors can secure and deliver private investment into their regions in pursuit of growth and regeneration.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...

2 2

Reposted by Institute for Government

Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 1d

Really interesting- and, I think, welcome- to see MPs sharing this kind of data about casework.

Casework is largely invisible (other than to the constituents it helps!) compared to what MPs do in the Commons chamber but is a huge part of MPs’ workload, and it’s really hard to get robust data on it

Dr Beccy Cooper MP @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social · 1d

17 28 110

Reposted by Institute for Government

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 2d

Flagged in this morning’s Politico Playbook, here’s @tompope.bsky.social’s excellent new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog on Kemi Badenoch’s stamp duty plan - and why the sums don’t quite add up.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 9 13

Reposted by Institute for Government

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 2d

And here's a new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer by @jillongovt.bsky.social on how stamp duty works (and whether Kemi Badenoch's plan to abolish it is sensible..)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/st...

2 7 4

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

🎙️New podcast is out!⚗️ Lessons in Kemistry

Lagging well behind Reform in the polls and bruised by a series of defections, the Conservative Party was in low spirits as it gathered for its party conference.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Lessons in Kemistry | Institute for Government

YouGov's Patrick English joined the Inside Briefing team in Manchester to assess the state of the official opposition.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, Reform UK and the Greens all set out their plans to change how government works at their respective party conferences.

So what have we learned? @drhannahwhite.bsky.social identifies the key themes www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/five...

Five party conferences reveal different visions for how government should work | Institute for Government

Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, Reform UK and the Greens all have plans to change how government works.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 1

Reposted by Institute for Government

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 1d

here's a handy @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer for him on the background in case he hasn't looked at that either www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/di...

Digital ID cards | Institute for Government

The introduction of ID cards has been debated in Westminster for decades.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

2 5 16

Reposted by Institute for Government

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

Industrial strategy, tariffs, regional growth and public services. These are only few of the many events the IfG hosted in Manchester for the 2025 Conservative Party Conference.

🎧The events' recordings can be listened back on our website:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-co...

3 2

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

Five party conferences reveal different visions for how government should work

After attending a marathon five conferences, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social identifies the key themes emerging from these annual gatherings of our political classes www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/five...

Five party conferences reveal different visions for how government should work | Institute for Government

Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, Reform UK and the Greens all have plans to change how government works.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

The party membership ballot for the 2025 Labour Party deputy leadership contest is open until 12pm on 23 October.

Read our explainer to find out more about the process for electing Angela Rayner's successor www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/20...

The 2025 Labour Party deputy leader contest | Institute for Government

Angela Rayner has stepped down as deputy leader of the Labour Party, who will replace her? The ballot is now open.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

2 4 5

Reposted by Institute for Government

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 2d

I would say this…

But this podcast is a must-listen to understand what happened at Conservative Party conference and whether Kemi Badenoch’s stamp duty plan adds up

Properly insightful analysis from ace @instituteforgovernment.org.uk colleagues and @patrick-pme.bsky.social @yougov.co.uk

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

PODCAST 🎙️ Lessons in Kemistry

@patrick-pme.bsky.social joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social in Manchester to assess the state of the official opposition at the Conservative Party Conference #CPC25 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Lessons in Kemistry | Institute for Government

YouGov's Patrick English joined the Inside Briefing team in Manchester to assess the state of the official opposition.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 4 6

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

Industrial strategy, tariffs, regional growth and public services. These are only few of the many events the IfG hosted in Manchester for the 2025 Conservative Party Conference.

🎧The events' recordings can be listened back on our website:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-co...

3 2

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

There's less than a week to go until applications close for our CRM Executive role. 🚨

If you have experience of using Zoho and can help us deliver effective communications, why not apply!

Closing date: Wednesday 15 October, 23:00 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

A job advert for a CRM Executive (Zoho) at the Institute for Government.

Salary: £35,000-£39,000 depending on skills and experience.

Deadline: Wednesday 15 October, 23:00

1 1

Reposted by Institute for Government

Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 1d

What day is it? That's right, it's Day 2 ("containment") of Exercise Pegasus, the "largest ever simulation of a pandemic in UK history" - right now, teams in the NHS, govt depts and others are testing their approach to dealing with a possible future pandemic...

hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...

A written statement from Ashley Dalton MP, health minister:

Exercise Pegasus will be the largest ever simulation of a pandemic in UK history and will involve participation from every Department, the devolved Governments and representation from arm’s length bodies and local resilience fora.

The exercise is due to take place from September to November 2025, led by the Department of Health and Social Care and delivered with the UK Health Security Agency. Core exercise days have been confirmed for 18 September, 9 October and 30 October, simulating the first phases of a pandemic: emergence, containment, and mitigation. A fourth phase—recovery—is also planned for 2026. The UK Government have committed to communicating the findings and lessons of the exercise as recommended by the covid-19 inquiry and a post-exercise report will be delivered in due course.

2 7 8

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 1d

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 1 3

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

The Civil Service Fast Stream applications open today!
@teodorgrama.bsky.social has updated our explainer on the government’s flagship talent development programme:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ci...

Civil service fast stream | Institute for Government

One of several ways into the civil service, the fast stream is the government’s flagship talent development programme.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

5 8

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

IfG DevoLab #2: How can mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies?

Join us in Birmingham to explore how mayors can secure and deliver private investment into their regions in pursuit of growth and regeneration.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...

3

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

In light of Kemi Badenoch’s pledge to abolish stamp duty, @jillongovt.bsky.social is refreshing our memory with a very useful explainer on Stamp Duty Land Tax:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

2 2

Reposted by Institute for Government

Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · 2d

My instant reaction to Badenoch's stamp duty announcement for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Stamp duty is a bad tax. But abolishing it without a broader reform of property taxes would be a missed opportunity and hard to afford.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 8 13

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

Kemi Badenoch has promised that the next Conservative government would abolish stamp duty on the purchase of main homes.

So what exactly is stamp duty? And is it sensible to abolish it? Read our explainer www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/st...

Stamp duty land tax | Institute for Government

Is Kemi Badenoch's pledge to abolish stamp duty a sensible plan?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has economic merit, but @tompope.bsky.social argues the Conservatives have not shown how this policy fits within a credible fiscal and tax strategy.

Read our latest comment www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

3 2