Paddy McAlary
@paddy-mcalary.bsky.social
160 followers 110 following 84 posts
Research Assistant @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Fellow @ihr.bsky.social
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Reposted by Paddy McAlary
queens.cam.ac.uk
On Friday evening we officially welcomed our newest members of the Fellowship of Queens'. Their admission took place in our beautiful chapel and they were welcomed in by our President, Dame Menna Rawlings. Many congratulations and welcome to Queens'.💚
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
So after promising to cut "wasteful spending" and council tax Reform has:
- Found no waste and instead plans to cut invest-to-save schemes
- Will now raise council tax by the full 5%
- Realised they don't control asylum spending

A staggering amount of failure in 5 months
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
The govt published its strategy to revitalise local communities last week

There is a heavy focus on directing funding to high streets and community spaces, which is part of the reason for declining "pride in place"

But it seems misguided for a few reasons

Short thread

www.gov.uk/government/p...
Pride in Place Strategy
The Pride in Place Strategy will help build stronger communities, create thriving places and empower local people.
www.gov.uk
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
teodorgrama.bsky.social
Excellent coverage of the latest fast stream recruitment data from @tevyemarkson.bsky.social (also featuring analysis from our recent @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report). The CSFS is attracting rising numbers of applicants – so what happens once they're on the scheme is even more important.
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
This interview is so much worse than the headline lets on
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
meganbryer.bsky.social
Angela Rayner's resignation on Friday means that a contest to replace her as deputy leader of the Labour Party has started.

Read my first explainer at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk to find out how the process will work, who is running, and when will we find out who Rayner's successor will be!
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
timdurrant.bsky.social
Fascinating analysis from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog of the new ministers: 14 of the 19 new MPs in their first ministerial role were previously parliamentary private secretaries

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...
A table from the IfG showing the parliamentary private secretary roles that newly-appointed ministers held before being appointed - the original table is available at https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/starmer-reshuffle-september-2025
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
timdurrant.bsky.social
What happened with ministerial changes over the weekend? @instituteforgovernment.org.uk has kept an eye on it - there are *62* ministers in new roles, meaning around half the government are in a new role today

Keep an eye on our analysis here:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...
Chart from the Institute for Govt showing the degree of change in the reshuffle
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
LIVEBLOG!

We've fired up the IfG reshuffle liveblog.

Essential for all the latest information as Keir Starmer reshapes his team.

Packed with data, charts, details and analysis about all the ministerial moves.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...
Starmer government reshuffle: PM changes top team after Rayner's exit | Institute for Government
The IfG team analyse the moves as Keir Starmer reshapes his Cabinet.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
cathhaddon.bsky.social
So reshuffles. Departures always come first. PM usually goes to Palace of Westminster to do those.

Appointments later.

We did an incredibly detailed insider podcast on it all only a few weeks ago that is worth a listen as you await further news

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...
The reshuffle revelations
Podcast Episode · Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · 31/07/2025 · 36m
podcasts.apple.com
paddy-mcalary.bsky.social
While all eyes have been on Angela Rayner's big announcement, she was not the only minister to go - reports are that Poppy Gustafsson has resigned as UK investment minister meaning 11 ministers have officially resigned (and 1 has been sacked) from the government since the GE
A step chart from the Institute for Government showing ministerial resignations outside reshuffles, 1979 to 5 September 2025. Eleven ministers have resigned from Starmer's government before he started his first reshuffle and one has been sacked.
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
jackpannell.bsky.social
With Rayner stepping down we have hit 10 minister's who have oficially resigned from this government. Make sure you are following @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social @rebeccamckee.bsky.social meganbryer.bsky.social for what Starmer will do next with his minsiterial team.
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
timdurrant.bsky.social
We may find out today whether Sir Laurie Magnus concludes that Angela Rayner has broken the ministerial code. But what happens then? While this is a big test of Labour's bolstered ethics system, ultimately these things are all about the politics:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ange...
The Angela Rayner case is the biggest test yet for Labour’s new ethics system – but the ultimate decision is still political | Institute for Government
A difficult decision awaits the prime minister.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
teodorgrama.bsky.social
Many organisations run graduate schemes focused on developing future leaders. That's what the fast stream has always been, at its core. It now needs to overcome the instinct to be all things to all people and rediscover that sense of purpose.

Me for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social:
The Fast Stream needs to rediscover its sense of purpose
A smaller Fast Stream – laser-focused on developing future leaders – would deliver more for the civil service and the country
www.civilserviceworld.com
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Hybrid bills have the potential to be a powerful tool for some of the government’s infrastructure ambitions.

So how have recent hybrid bills worked and what are the key issues with the process? Read our report on parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure zurl.co/cFtJQ
Hybrid bills: Parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure | Institute for Government
How to improve the hybrid bill legislative process.
zurl.co
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
teodorgrama.bsky.social
Great to see our latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report on the fast stream covered in The Guardian.

The civil service wants the fast stream to do too much, all at once. A smaller programme that is laser-focused on developing future leaders would deliver more for the civil service.
Civil service graduate talent scheme needs urgent reform, says thinktank
Exclusive: Institute for Government says failings are leading many fast streamers to leave programme early
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
teodorgrama.bsky.social
As with all coverage of the civil service internship scheme, it is important to remember:

(1) It allows those on it to skip one of 2 or 3 stages of the fast stream recruitment process. Former interns then compete on an equal footing with any and all other applicants to get on the fast stream.
Sue Gray questions class-based civil service internship scheme
The PM's former chief of staff says she
www.bbc.co.uk
paddy-mcalary.bsky.social
What do Ken Clarke's time as chancellor, Tessa Jowell's first day as a minister and Tim Loughton's jelly babies have in common?

All feature in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Ministers Reflect series!

Hear reflections, stories and advice on this special Inside Briefing co-hosted by your truly✨
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
🎧PODCAST | The secrets of being a government minister

Over the past 10 years, the Institute for Government has interviewed more than 170 former ministers from the UK and devolved governments about their time in office. Listen to what they have told us so far:zurl.co/sbbwr
The secrets of being a government minister | Institute for Government
To mark the 10th anniversary of Ministers Reflect, this special Inside Briefing takes a look at what former ministers have told us in the last decade.
zurl.co
Reposted by Paddy McAlary
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
📎REPORT: Hybrid bills: Parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure

Hybrid bills help approve major infrastructure projects, but recent cases show inefficiencies. This paper suggests reforms to improve the process and unlock the potential of hybrid bills.

Read the report:👇
zurl.co/m7cUv
Hybrid bills: Parliament’s role in delivering major infrastructure | Institute for Government
How to improve the hybrid bill legislative process.
zurl.co