Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jill Rutter

@jillongovt.bsky.social

32K followers 350 following 860 posts

Senior Fellow, Institute for Government and still doing bits for UK in a Changing Europe. Cricket fan and (not very good) tennis player.

Videos

Jill Rutter is a former British civil servant. She is a senior research fellow of UK in a Changing Europe, and was previously the programme director at the Institute for Government (IfG) directing the organisation's work on better policy making and Brexit. She has written a number of reports on civil service and the implications of Brexit for Whitehall and Westminster. .. more

Political science 38%

Education 17%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 16h

Rishi Sunak is shaping up to be a very good ex-PM

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 16h

Love this for him, perhaps the most Rishi Sunak imaginable after-premiership bit of good work he could do.

The Policy Institute @policyatkings.bsky.social · 17h

We’re pleased to partnering with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty on Number Nation, a new initiative to conduct the UK’s largest ever study into attitudes to everyday numbers – in partnership with the Richmond Project, Purposeful Ventures and Public First

🧵⬇️

6 20

Reposted by Jill Rutter

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 16h

Love this for him, perhaps the most Rishi Sunak imaginable after-premiership bit of good work he could do.

The Policy Institute @policyatkings.bsky.social · 17h

20 10 110

Reposted by Jill Rutter

Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 20h

There’s not much to say about the solid wall insulation failures that hasn’t already been said. A diabolical policy failure that wasted money and harmed people.

But one thing I will add is: I think it highlights the need for more state delivery capacity on warm homes, not just regulation
🧵

Almost all external insulation fitted under Tory scheme needs repair or replacing, report finds

Homeowners who took advantage of government programmes left with cladding likely to cause damp

www.theguardian.com

7 37 80

Reposted by Jill Rutter

Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 1d

The new Ethics and Integrity Commission has launched today, with a shiny new website (outside the gov. uk brand!)

We spoke to its chair, Doug Chalmers, earlier in the year about the new body and its work...

eic.independent-commission.uk

2 6 2

Reposted by Anand Menon, Jill Rutter

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 1d

"One thing is clear: in stark contrast to the late 2010s, party conferences are not the place to go for really vigorous debates about the UK’s future relationship with Europe."

@jillongovt.bsky.social argues that UK-EU relations is a dividing line in UK party politics

ukandeu.ac.uk/uk-eu-relati...

Relations with Europe are becoming more of a dividing line for the mainstream parties - UK in a changing Europe

In the wake of party conference season, Jill Rutter reflects on how much attention was paid to the UK's relationship with the EU at the Liberal Democrat, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Green Party ...

ukandeu.ac.uk

5 12

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 2d

More plausible...

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 2d

I think for what you want this proposal would be totally counterproductive because what you might regard as neutral voices (and Miliband is surely not the right person to chair..) would not carry credibility with those you need to persuade. A citizen's assembly might be better

2 4

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 2d

alternative view - this would look like exactly the sort of Establishment stitch-up that would ensure a No victory next time round. IF you wanted to do this, I think you would at the least need to start with a Chair who supported Brexit first time round to have any credibility about things changing

5 5

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Andrew Scott, Ralf Martin , and 1 more Ben H. Ansell, Andrew Scott, Ralf Martin, Jill Rutter

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 4d

If they do this, they’ll need a convincing answer to the obvious question some will ask: ‘why don’t we rejoin?’ Keir Starmer’s plan to blame Nigel Farage for budget tax rises

www.thetimes.com/article/8875...

Keir Starmer’s plan to blame Nigel Farage for budget tax rises

With Reform UK threatening the end of two-party politics, both Labour and the Tories are fighting to stay relevant as conference season comes to an end

www.thetimes.com

42 80 300

Reposted by Anand Menon, Simon Usherwood, Jill Rutter

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 4d

Enjoyed doing this @ukandeu.bsky.social event with my #BGE2024 co-author @psurridge.bsky.social - and 👏 to @jillongovt.bsky.social for coping admirably with the 'two-Tims-problem'!

UKICE Lunch Hour: the state of the right - UK in a changing Europe

UK in a Changing Europe is bringing together a team of experts to understand the developments in right-wing politics. Join us online to hear their analysis of the state of the right.

ukandeu.ac.uk

2 5 4

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

here is an estimate of £ 4.5bn spent by Feb 2010 - the scheme was scrapped in May news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8707355...

BBC News - Identity cards scheme will be axed 'within 100 days'

news.bbc.co.uk

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

I am not sure these cost estimates would be relevant now as we already have lots of digital ID systems that govt could build off.. note that govt was charging for cards backed then and people who had paid did not get compensated when cards were cancelled

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2009...

Identity Cards - Hansard - UK Parliament

Hansard record of the item : 'Identity Cards' on Monday 6 July 2009.

hansard.parliament.uk

1 1

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

sorry - failed to put in the reference and now can;t find it .. the estimate in 2007 was that the scheme would cost a total of £ 5.31m by 2016 but it was cancelled in 2010. That was the estimate of the cost when scrapped by govt argued in 2009 that a lot of those costs were for biometric passports

1 1

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

it does make the point that employers are already supposed to check status..(I thought...) -- but you are right

1 3

Reposted by Tim Bale

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

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

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

well if you are not getting any credit for it, maybe just rein it in..

1 11

Reposted by Jill Rutter

Peter Hyman @peterhyman.bsky.social · 5d

thanks a lot - think we need a playbook of campaigns to cut through the noise rather than a ‘one and done’ mentality of small policy launches.

1 1

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

V interesting new substack from @peterhyman.bsky.social on what decent modern media management in govt should look like - and why the Grid is no longer the way to go peterhyman21.substack.com/p/revealed-h... (the lesson of Major era is, I think, hopeless division not great for media management)

Revealed: How the No 10 grid strangles effective communication

A government ‘playlist’ of campaigns could cut through more powerfully than an old-style grid of worthy policy nuggets

peterhyman21.substack.com

1 3 7

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

its one of the best ever titles if nothing else

1 2

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

V Important piece from @andrewgmccormick.bsky.social for @ukandeu.bsky.social on why UK guarantees would be inadequate replacement for ECHR for GFA/Belfast agreement. UK govts are joint guarantors of that agreement with Irish counterpart

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 5d

"The underlying point is that, given the history, there was nothing like sufficient trust that the UK state could, or would, provide the safeguards and protections of minority rights in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today."

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-belfast-...

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe

Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.

ukandeu.ac.uk

3 7

Reposted by Anand Menon, Jill Rutter

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 5d

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe

Andrew McCormick explains the role ECHR membership plays in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.

ukandeu.ac.uk

2 11 19

Reposted by Anand Menon, Jill Rutter

Markus W. Gehring @mwgehring.bsky.social · 5d

Warm invitation @eulegalstudies.bsky.social annual lecture with the most inspiring @ukandeu.bsky.social Director Prof @anandmenon.bsky.social with Reflections on the Brexit ‘Revolution’ - please join us @cambridgelaw.bsky.social on 3 Nov 5.30pm - open to all.

www.cels.law.cam.ac.uk/press/events...

2025-26 Mackenzie Stuart Lecture: 'Reflections on the Brexit

Speaker: Professor Anand Menon, Director, UK in a Changing Europe Biography: Anand Menon is Director of the UK in a Changing Europe and Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s

www.cels.law.cam.ac.uk

4 5

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 5d

Steve Reed at Labour (in the Politico pub) said he hadn't thought about revaluation or and it hadn't cropped up in any discussion with Rachel Reeves

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Will Jennings, Anand Menon , and 1 more Jonathan Portes, Will Jennings, Anand Menon, Jill Rutter

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 5d

"Are they [MRPs] any use to anyone at this stage of the Parliament? No! Do something more useful. Stop producing these polls. They're not magic."

Expert pollster @psurridge.bsky.social reflects on polls and electoral reform

Catch up on the discussion in full here 👇 www.youtube.com/live/ivRLHUb...

2 12 38

Reposted by Thomas Pope, Jill Rutter

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 5d

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 Jill Rutter

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 6d

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

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 6d

some non-residential - and would need to decide whether only principal residence .. I'd confine any change to people who are tax residents..

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 6d

stamp duty and associated devolved versions raise big money and forecast to go a lot higher acc OBR in March (that said, a genuinely popular policy which could pave the way for serious tax reform)

2 1 8

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 6d

when I was at Defra we wanted LAs to do stuff on climate and air quality but what really mattered to local people/councils was litter and quality of public realm