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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 11h

As Conservative party conference closes, the Labour deputy leadership contest gets going in earnest: ballots are now open for party members.

@meganbryer.bsky.social has updated the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer on the contest - all you need to know here:

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

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

Look out for a #CPC25 Inside Briefing special podcast - the IfG team @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social are joined by guest @patrick-pme.bsky.social.

Landing in your podcast feeds tomorrow. 🎧👀

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 1d

agreed - as the piece says, headcount cuts are not the best way to go about this, definitely. can't speak to the specifics of your situation - if actual delivery is being put at risk, departments will reprioritise staff. but the civil service does need to be up for reforming itself...

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 1d

i don't think that's true- the civil service has grown substantially over the last decade, and as the piece says there are plenty of examples of duplication and poor prioritisation within the civil service. but i do agree that future changes need to have a clear vision for what the CS is there to do

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

Kicking off our second day at #CPC25 im Manchester.

This morning we are exploring the role of mayors.

Find out more about our events at Conservative Party Conference www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-co...

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 1d

Great piece from Alex and Jack (of course)

Plenty of savings to be made in the civil service, but the response to all these kinds of announcements (from government and opposition parties!) should always be: what do you want the state to stop doing?

Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · 2d

Our reaction to Mel Stride’s big day at the Tory conference

There are savings to be made in the civil service. But an arbitrary headcount target & ignoring new demands on the state won’t deliver them

The hard work of doing that falls to the govt

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

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Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: Mel Stride’s civil service savings are more signal than substance

@alexgathomas.bsky.social & @jackworlidge.bsky.social give the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk verdict on Mel Stride's civil service savings

(& yes, it's a fantasy numbers game)

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

Mel Stride’s civil service savings are more signal than substance | Institute for Government

Setting a civil service headcount target is too simplistic.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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

We're kicking off our final panel discussion of the day at #CPC25 with @livuniheseltine.bsky.social.

Find out about tomorrow's fringe events - or keep an eye on our website for an audio recording www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-co...

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Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social · 2d

Do you like EVENTS about DATA & AI?

Well...

- Wed 8 Oct, 2pm, online
- @connectedbydata.org data & AI public engagement community of practice
- @gileslane.bsky.social @raeng.org.uk on their People's AI Stewardship Summits & Anna Beckett on evaluating @civicdatacoop.bsky.social Residents’ Assembly

Data and AI public engagement: Community of Practice

On Wednesday 8 October 2025 at 2pm we will hold the twelfth meeting of a community of practice as part of our project on Giving communities a powerful say in public sector data and AI projects.

connectedbydata.org

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Jonathan Jones @sirjjkc.bsky.social · 5d

My thoughts on what Keir Starmer might mean by “looking again” at international law (including the ECHR) in the context of migration, how that might be done and whether it would work www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/keir...

What does Keir Starmer mean by “looking again” at international law? | Institute for Government

The government plans to remain in the ECHR but change how it is interpreted.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 5d

Five things the IfG learned at the 2025 Labour Party Conference

@timdurrant.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social explore what #Lab25 revealed about Keir Starmer’s government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/2025...

Five things the IfG learned at the 2025 Labour Party Conference | Institute for Government

What did the Labour conference reveal about Keir Starmer’s government?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 6d

For more, read our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer on ministerial directions (which doesn't yet have this one, as we haven't seen the official confirmation)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mi...

Ministerial directions | Institute for Government

Ministerial directions are formal instructions telling departments to proceed with a spending proposal, despite objection from permanent secretaries.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 6d

And I assume that's why this one has been briefed to the FT, rather than released on the proper page on gov.uk (I assume that'll be coming soon...) - it's a chance for Peter Kyle and his team to show they're not beholden to civil service caution and that they will do things to support UK business

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 6d

...they are a way for ministers to say "I think this thing is important and I want it to happen, regardless of the risk". That doesn't mean it's always the right decision, but it does mean ministers can show they're taking into account other factors beyond those the civil service can/should consider

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 6d

A new ministerial direction, this time for the JLR loan guarantee. Directions are sometimes seen as a failing- and critics of this one point to the moral hazard risk, that other companies see this and fail to prepare for potential cyber attacks.

But directions per se aren't always a bad thing...

UK business secretary approved £1.5bn JLR loan guarantee despite civil service concerns

Peter Kyle said he was willing to take on greater risk in approving the speedy financial support for carmaker

www.ft.com

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Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 7d

🎧🎧Listen now!

Brilliant analysis of Starmer’s speech and the Labour conference with @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social and guest @sophiestowers.bsky.social of @moreincommonuk.bsky.social

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

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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 8d

Don't miss our final #Lab25 event on rebuilding the criminal justice system - we will be joined by Deputy Mayor Kate Green, Clare Moody, @cassiarowland.bsky.social @fionarutherford.bsky.social @justicehq.bsky.social @njdavies.bsky.social

Find us in Clyde Room, Arena Floor at 17:15 zurl.co/O52cg

How can the government rebuild the criminal justice system? Tuesday 30 September | 17:15–18:15

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 8d

And at the same event, former perm sec Moira Wallace says govt is good at worrying about the risk of doing things, but less good at worrying about the risks of *not* doing things - which can actually have much more significant impacts

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Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 8d

Chris Ward, Cabinet Office minister speaking at an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk fringe event about the importance of early ministerial involvement in decisions, and also how to remove the need for ministers to get involved in really nitty-gritty decisions where there aren’t really many choices

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