Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · May 29

Some welcome urgency from government on getting water infrastructure built as quickly as possible - which is crucial in the context of an increasing demand shortfall, as I explored in a blog for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk last month www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/inde...

6 17

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · May 28

Thames Water has been fined its biggest penalty so far by the water industry regulator Ofwat

But what is Ofwat and how does it function?

Read our full explainer: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/of...

Ofwat | Institute for Government

Ofwat is the economic regulator for the water and sewage sectors in England and Wales. But how does it work?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

2 3

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Matthew Gill @drmatthewgill.bsky.social · Apr 10

Monday's announcement puts government at risk of cutting quango numbers for its own sake. But efficiency, accountability, and freeing up ministers to focus on the big picture are what really matter, and there are better ways to achieve these things. My latest for @instituteforgov.bsky.social:

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Apr 10

Pat McFadden has written to departments, asking them to justify the existence of their public bodies.

But cutting the number of public bodies is the wrong objective for the government to set itself, says @drmatthewgill.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pat-...

Not another bonfire of the quangos… | Institute for Government

Cutting the number of public bodies is the wrong objective for the government to set itself.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

4 6

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Teodor Grama @teodorgrama.bsky.social · Apr 4

The passage of Labour's Tobacco and Vapes bill has been plain sailing so far. But history shows the success of anti-smoking policy hinges on cross-party (& public) buy-in, which the govt must not take for granted - certainly not now.

My latest for @instituteforgov.bsky.social 👇

Smokefree generation: How to turn manifesto promises into tangible results | Institute for Government

What the government can learn from past anti-smoking legislation for its 'smokefree generation' commitment.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

3 3

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Apr 3

In a big day for government reviews at the IfG - a new blog from me about Sir Jon Cunliffe's Independent Water Commission. I explore why was it set up, what it is doing, and what this all has to do with 'terrible Tuesday'...

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/inde...

The Independent Water Commission has a chance to create meaningful change | Institute for Government

Labour set out clear ambitions for infrastructure before the election, including on housing and energy. But plans for the water sector were less clear

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

9 15

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Ben Paxton @drbenpaxton.bsky.social · Apr 3

NEW REPORT from @jillongovt.bsky.social and I on how government should set up and run independent policy reviews to help deliver reforms. We looked back at previous reviews, and spoke to former reviewers to get their reflections and advice (1/12)
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Lessons from past independent policy reviews | Institute for Government

How, when and why are policy reviews used by politicians?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 8 12

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

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

Interested in making government more effective? Applications for our 2025–26 research internship programme, starting in September 2025, are now open.

Closing date: Tuesday 29 April, 11:00 ⏰

Find out more:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

A job advert for research internships 2025-26 at the IfG.

Six one-year, full-time internships starting in September 2025.

Salary: £30,000

Deadline: Tuesday 2 April, 11:00

1 33 16

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Millie Mitchell @milliemitchell.bsky.social · Mar 26

Planning reform given big emphasis in Rachel Reeves' statement today, including key measures from last week's Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

For a breakdown of 5 major changes, check out this recent blog from @sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social and me

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/five...

Five key changes set out in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill | Institute for Government

What is the potential impact of the government's planning bill?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

4

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Matthew Gill @drmatthewgill.bsky.social · Mar 25

Some more detailed thoughts on the regulatory action plan published last week...

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Mar 25

What is in the government’s plan to make regulation pro-growth?

The government has set out ambitious plans to streamline regulation. @drmatthewgill.bsky.social says there is much to applaud, but a sophisticated debate on regulation remains elusive www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

Operation chainsaw or clear-eyed surgery: What is in the government’s plan to make regulation pro-growth? | Institute for Government

The government has set out ambitious plans to streamline regulation.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 2

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Matthew Gill @drmatthewgill.bsky.social · Mar 17

1/ Today’s policy paper from HMT on regulation and growth is welcome: www.gov.uk/government/n.... In the main, it grips the need to prioritise growth in an energetic but proportionate way. Nonetheless, implementation of some proposals will be difficult and there are some pitfalls to avoid.

Radical action plan to cut red tape and kickstart growth

The Chancellor will meet top regulator bosses in Downing Street today (Monday 17 March) as she unveils an action plan to deliver on the pledge to cut the administrative cost of regulation on business ...

www.gov.uk

1 2 3

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · Mar 14

📣New report from me & @brionya.bsky.social

MCAs’ decision-making is often limited by unanimous voting rules

Effective decision making for key strategic plans requires a shift to simple majority voting alongside greater capacity and accountability

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

How the government can support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities | Institute for Government

Making England’s ‘devolution revolution’ a reality.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1 11 7

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Mar 13

In light of today's announcement - this chart gives some context on how NHS England accounts for almost half of government's total spending on ALBs, and how increases to its budget have been the main driver for the overall increase in funding for ALBs in recent years.

Line chart from the Institute for Government of government funding of arm's-length bodies by category, 2013/23-2022/23 (in 2024/25 prices), where funding of NDPBs has increased over the time period but funding of executive agencies and non-ministerial departments has stayed almost flat.

7 6

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · Mar 13

Reports by @drmatthewgill.bsky.social -
our @instituteforgov.bsky.social expert on all things public bodies -
are must reads right now… 👇

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Mar 13

Keir Starmer has announced that the government will be abolishing NHS England.

Read our report by @drmatthewgill.bsky.social on how to successfully abolish a public body and the lessons from previous restructures www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

How to abolish a public body | Institute for Government

How the government can make future abolitions succeed.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

1

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Matthew Gill @drmatthewgill.bsky.social · Mar 13

Can AI transform civil service productivity? How would you cut the administrative costs of regulation by 25%? And what would that mean for arachnids in Ebbsfleet? Join us to discuss these - and other themes from Keir Starmer's speech - at lunchtime today!

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Mar 13

TODAY: What is Keir Starmer’s new plan for government reform?

Join us at 13:00 for our expert analysis of the PM’s plans to overhaul the state.

@drmatthewgill.bsky.social @hannahkeenan.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/keir-s...

An image for an IfG webinar:

What is Keir Starmer’s new plan for government reform?
Thursday 13 March, 13:00-14:00

Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
Hannah Keenan, Associate Director at the Institute for Government
Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

The event will be chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

3 3

Reposted by Shivani Chivukula

Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · Mar 12

While we all speculate about what exactly the PM will say tomorrow and what the balance between ministers, depts and public bodies should be over policy decisions, I thought I'd have a look through the @instituteforgov.bsky.social's interviews with former ministers to see what they have to say...

1 6 4

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Feb 12

The National Wealth Fund is a key part of the govt's plans to address chronic underinvestment in the UK and stimulate growth. But what is it, and how does it work? An explainer: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/na...

What is the National Wealth Fund? | Institute for Government

The chancellor's new Fund replaces the UK Infrastructure Bank.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

2 2

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Feb 5

Following a great IfG event yesterday on the government's clean power targets, a new explainer by me on the role of the National Energy System Operator (NESO)⚡ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/na...

National Energy System Operator (NESO) | Institute for Government

NESO is the public body responsible for Great Britain’s energy system.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

3 2

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 29

It still remains to be seen whether the data from govt's Applicant Tracking System will make a difference. Interesting that the Commissioner points to Downing St input as a cause of delays - more granular data pinpointing at what stage of processes delays are happening would be welcome.

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 29

As I pointed out in Whitehall Monitor 2025, these sorts of delays undermine the governance of ALBs and can deter potential applicants, potentially leading to less diverse and high-calibre boards.

1 1

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 29

The Commissioner for Public Appointment's report for 2023-24 has now been published. It's a shame to see that delays to appointment processes got even worse, with only 13% concluding within the recommended timeframe of 3 months. publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...

publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk

1 4 8

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 17

Read Whitehall Monitor 2025 in full here! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Whitehall Monitor 2025 | Institute for Government

The civil service needs to change to deliver Labour's missions.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 17

The current public body review programme will conclude in March. While it covered a greater proportion of bodies in scope of review than the previous iteration, its overall impact is unclear. It will be interesting to see what conclusions PACAC will draw on this in their inquiry on public bodies.

Bar chart from the Institute for Government showing public body reviews conducted, 2010-25

1

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 17

The former category grew slightly more slowly than the overall CS in 2012/13–2022/23. The latter increased dramatically by 43.7%, again largely due to the reclassification of Network Rail.

A line chart from the Institute for Government of arm's-length body staff numbers by category, 2012/13–2022/23, where staff numbers of NDPBs, executive agencies, and non-ministerial departments rose over time.

1

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 17

The ALB workforce is split into those classified as civil servants (around 62% in 2022/23) and those who are public servants.

1

Shivani Chivukula @shivanichivukula.bsky.social · Jan 17

On balance, and the recent inclusion of Network Rail aside, ALB budgets remained fairly flat in real terms between 2012/13–2022/23. The exception was - unsurprisingly - NHS England.

1