Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle are never far away in Westminster. So how should Keir Starmer approach the delicate task of choosing his top team? The prime minister has to strike a balance between ministers’ performance, party management and the government’s policy agenda, while being a minister is a job like no other – there are no regular performance reviews, clear handovers or annual appraisals.

So how can ministers succeed in government and reach the cabinet table? What skills do they need at each rung of the ministerial ladder? How can backbench MPs prepare to become a minister? And how does the prime minister make decisions about who should serve in government?

To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:

Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at The i Paper
Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Rt Hon James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

How to succeed as a minister

The Freedom of Information Act at 25

With European nations now spending more on defence than America for the first time since the Second World War, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin explored how the end of the peace dividend is creating new dilemmas for the political class and what this means for the Whitehall machine.

In his first speech since stepping down as head of the armed forces, Admiral Sir Tony, who served four successive prime ministers, reflected on the advent of a third nuclear age, the race to artificial super intelligence and the requirement for grand national strategy to meet the demands of a new more dangerous era.

Following his speech, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Navigating a Contested Age: Chiefly Reflections of Admiral Sir Tony Radakin

The former deputy prime minister, in his only fringe event at this year’s Liberal Democrat conference, spoke to IfG director Hannah White about Keir Starmer’s Donald Trump strategy, Elon Musk’s interventions in British politics, the AI challenge, and how centre left parties can fight back against the rise of populism.

Sir Nick Clegg in conversation: Big tech, AI and political conflict

How can changes to NHS incentives help deliver the 10 Year Health Plan

President Trump’s return to the White House has reshaped the world trade order – posing risks, but also offering opportunities, for the UK.

What can be done to make the UK become a more attractive destination for foreign investment? How should the UK deal with the US - and approach its relationship with China? How can the government help UK businesses and will its new industrial and trade strategy help secure the UK’s economic future?

We discussed at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth with an expert panel, featuring:

➡️ Clive Jones MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Trade
➡️ Helen Bower-Easton CBE, Director of Communications at the Financial Conduct Authority
➡️ Joanna Cound, Global Head of Public Policy at BlackRock UK
➡️ Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation
➡️ Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

This event was chaired by Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

This event was held in partnership with the City of London Corporation. 

Boosting trade and unlocking investment in an uncertain world

The government’s devolution plans are centred on devolving more powers out of Whitehall into the hands of the local leaders, and giving local places control of key policy areas like skills, transport, and housing. But questions remain about how this will work in practice.

At the 2025 Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth we explored the key steps that local places need to take to develop an effective economic strategy.

Our speakers included:
➡️ Baroness Pinnock, Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson on Housing, Communities and Local Government
➡️ Professor Lisa Collins, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Surrey
➡️ Councillor Lorna Dupre, Deputy Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council
➡️ Rebecca McKee Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government

This event was chaired by Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

This event was held in partnership with the University of Surrey.

How can local places ensure devolution delivers economic growth?

The Liberal Democrat manifesto committed to keeping people out of hospital by investing in public health and early access to community services. Prevention is also central to the government’s plans for improving healthcare. But meaningfully shifting care from treatment to prevention is easier said than done. 

So how could the UK take a prevention-led approach to healthcare? 

We discussed at the 2025 Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth with an expert panel featuring:

➡️ Andrew George MP, Member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee
➡️ Jules Payne Chief Executive at HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity
➡️ Rob Thomas, Head of Public Affairs, UK and Ireland at Novartis UK 

This event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event was held in partnership with Novartis UK.

How could the UK take a prevention-led approach to healthcare?

The leading think tank working to make UK government more effective. 

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How to succeed as a minister

Institute for Government

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