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Shaina Sangha

@shaina-sangha.bsky.social

87 followers 110 following 17 posts

Policymaking team and formerly public finances @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Former parliamentary staffer.

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Apr 23

If your blood pressure thinking about foreign affairs wasn't high enough, here's an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer from me on defence spending.

How much do we spend? How much did we used to spend? What do we spend on? Questions asked, questions answered ...

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

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Trump’s return to the White House, defence spending has risen up the political agenda.

So how much does the UK spend – and how does this compare to its NATO allies? @shaina-sangha.bsky.social explains www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/uk...

UK defence spending | Institute for Government

Defence spending has grown in political salience in recent years.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 4h

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

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Ben Paxton @drbenpaxton.bsky.social · 14d

Procurement is massively underrated as an opportunity for improvement, and where a mission-led approach could make a difference.
Our NEW REPORT explores why this change is hard, and how procurement should be used to shape markets + drive innovation🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The role of procurement in delivering mission-led government | Institute for Government

How can the government remove the barriers to its missions?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · 14d

Great paper from Gemma, Tom and Jill, who have been thinking about how to do tax reform a lot longer than just this budget cycle.

Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · 15d

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report by me, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social on how Reeves should approach tax this Autumn

With tax rises inevitable, Reeves should reject path of least resistance and embrace tax reform 1/3

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The 2025 budget and beyond: How Rachel Reeves can approach tax reform to help drive growth | Institute for Government

A big autumn approaches for the chancellor.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Paddy McAlary @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social · Sep 5

This reshuffle is far bigger than initially expected!

Its impacts will reverberate for some time - but at least Starmer can finally say he seized the spotlight from Reform UK

For @instituteforgovernment.org.uk analysis 👇
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

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Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Sep 4

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

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Sep 2

Think 2 big risks in No.10 shake-up are (a) more big figures & no clarity on who does what means duplicative work gumming up the system, and (b) the 'change the way the state works' bit of missions gets totally cannibalised by the 'deliver the plan for change targets' bit of missions.

Screenshot of text that reads: "By any measure, this is a big shake-up. In the PM's words, it is about moving the government into “phase two” and “ramping up the next phase of the government’s domestic agenda”. In more common parlance: it’s about getting stuff done. There are two traps Starmer must navigate through to give this set-up a chance of success: clarity and ambition.

First, by not being clear enough on who is responsible for what, especially in terms of delivering on Starmer’s priorities, the new look No 10 is at real risk of compounding some of the issues it seeks to resolve. I currently count at least four people doing this from the centre: Jones in his new role; Clara Swinson (appointed as second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office last year and head of the Mission Delivery Unit); Pandit, who is reportedly staying on in a “new role leading on policy delivery in No10”; and Pat McFadden, whose responsibilities as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster include “missions” and “supporting the delivery of the government’s priorities”. Add to that the Prime Minister’s private office (and a new PPS in Dan York-Smith who will want to show he ‘gets’ what Starmer is after), and the myriad of others in and around the centre who purport to speak for the Prime Minister, and the picture is looking very busy."

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Hannah Keenan @hannahkeenan.bsky.social · Aug 29

I am really very certain - having also seen 4 iterations of No.10 while working in the Cabinet Office - that adding more people to the centre of government is not the solution here.

If the shake-up is on, it better be a proper one.

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Jonathan Jones @sirjjkc.bsky.social · Aug 27

My overview of some of the legal implications of Reform UK’s immigration proposals www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/refo...

Are Reform UK’s plans for dealing with 'illegal migration' legally feasible? | Institute for Government

There are legal and practical obstacles to many of Nigel Farage's plans.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Aug 26

I'd point you to some @instituteforgovernment.org.uk work here, including from @sachinsavur.bsky.social, @catherineriachi.bsky.social and @jlowen.bsky.social on other ways to approach this issue.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

How the government can design better asylum policy | Institute for Government

The government must exert its authority over the whole asylum system and avoid short-sighted measures aimed at conjuring an illusion of control.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Aug 26

All this to say that we should be aware of the ratio between *money spent upfront/time spent/norms broken/treaties exited* and *money saved* through these policies. There are MANY good reasons to do reform in this area but big savings for the exchequer are not high up the list. 6/7

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Aug 26

This might be a salient issue for Farage and worthwhile to him to spend more money on than he can hope to recoup. Zia Yusuf has said this will net £7bn savings, need to see detail on this. But it will not shield any govt from the trifecta of tax rises, big spending cuts, or expensive borrowing. 5/7

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Aug 26

In the short/med-term at least, a money saving measure, this is not! In long-term too, it is impossible to know what deterrent effect this will have and whether any savings will be delivered - the HO said this itself when asked to evaluate the impact of a Rwanda-style scheme a few years ago. 4/7

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Aug 26

Though, incidentally, the amount Farage has put up (unclear from where) for returns deals would be £2bn so c.50% (presumably additionally) of what we currently spend on asylum plus all the costs (as yet unclear) of building new detention centres, exiting conventions etc. 3/7

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Aug 26

There's money to save but of £23bn HO says it will spend in 25/26, £4.3bn (I note they often underestimate this a bit but nevertheless) will be on asylum related costs. You're now talking about 1/300th of total govt spend. 2/7

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Shaina Sangha @shaina-sangha.bsky.social · Aug 26

Re. Farage's £ figures in announcement today on asylum plans, this is not a big money saver for govt. HO's total managed expenditure (for police, asylum, national security etc) in 24/25 was £22.5bn. That's a lot but £8bn less than e.g. DfT and 1/13th of what DWP spends. 1/7

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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · Aug 26

"look beyond AI and much of the economy appears sluggish. Real consumption has flatlined since December. Jobs growth is weak. Housebuilding has slumped, as has business investment in non-ai parts of the economy"
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
From The Economist

How America’s AI boom is squeezing the rest of the economy

Beware the data-centre takeover

www.economist.com

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Amber Dellar @amberdellar.bsky.social · Aug 20

NEW REPORT: how does where you live and your background affect how you do at school?

- Inequalities have widened around the country and between groups of children since the pandemic

- Progress depends on sharing what works to support disadvantaged pupils & cutting high absence

🧵👇

Educational outcomes across England | Institute for Government

Examining the performance gaps in schools.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Stuart Hoddinott @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · Jul 24

I wonder how many times right wing think tanks can write the same report about the NHS

Seems we haven't reached the limit yet

200 pages to make the most boring (and worse, useless) set of policy recommendations

Hugh Alderwick @hughalderwick.bsky.social · Jul 23

Policy exchange, backed by Sajid Javid, think we need to switch the NHS funding model to social insurance, and introduce new charges for NHS services, like to see a GP

policyexchange.org.uk/publication/...

These are not new ideas, but they are bad ideas

A thread with some evidence

The NHS – a Suitable Case for Treatment? - Policy Exchange

Download Publication Online Reader ‘The NHS – a Suitable Case for Treatment?’ makes the case that the NHS is not fit for purpose and is in urgent need of reform.The report finds that NHS performance r...

policyexchange.org.uk

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Jul 17

Chancellors wield huge power across Whitehall – but many struggle to achieve their aims.

In our latest Ministers Reflect, @jeremyhuntmp.bsky.social offers some lessons that Rachel Reeves – and future chancellors – might want to heed www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/jere...

How to run the Treasury: Jeremy Hunt’s lessons for Rachel Reeves | Institute for Government

Chancellors wield huge power across Whitehall – but many struggle to achieve their aims.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Stuart Hoddinott @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · Jul 7

Good write up of the 10 year plan from Nick Timmins:

- A lot of existing policy. But that's good: things like integration are laudable aims
- Focus on tech is welcome, but dependent on limited capital budgets
- Social care still needs addressing

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/nhs-...

Labour’s 10 Year Health Plan: familiar ideas could be frustrated by familiar problems | Institute for Government

There is plenty of the what but less of the how in Wes Streeting’s new plan.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · Jul 4

“In many areas, the Labour government has introduced changes that are necessary and valuable and yet these have not been knitted together in a way that is sufficient to shift public perceptions of change” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/labo...

Labour’s first year: Keir Starmer’s government is less than the sum of its parts | Institute for Government

Keir Starmer has yet to set out a clear governing philosophy.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · Jun 30

So I noticed a jarring headline in the FT, saying "UK DISPOSABLE INCOME FALLS AT FASTEST RATE SINCE 2023"

and wondered if you were as bothered by it as I was.

I am here to say: fear not. Or rather, look at it like the graph down here: 1/

www.ft.com/content/08a1...

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Jun 27

Delivering the new industrial strategy will be a huge test for government

@gilesyb.bsky.social warns that white paper represents a daunting delivery challenge that requires unprecedented levels of cross-departmental working www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/indu...

Delivering the new industrial strategy will be a huge test for government | Institute for Government

There is much to welcome in the new white paper.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · Jun 27

My latest thoughts on why the characteristics of the 2024 parliament mean the backbench welfare bill rebellion is unlikely to be the last one faced by Keir Starmer www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/parl...

Parliament has changed – Keir Starmer’s welfare reform challenge won’t be a one-off | Institute for Government

The prime minister needs a new way of working with backbench Labour MPs.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Stuart Hoddinott @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · Jun 18

Another Zia Yusuf tweet that shows a lack of understanding of how local govt works

1) Kent is not responsible for appointing auditors. Fees are set and auditors appointed by a body call Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA)

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