Dissatisfaction with public services was a key reason for the Conservative defeat in the general election. How can the new party leader and frontbench regain public trust for running public services? What are the key elements of a distinctive Conservative vision for public services? How should the Conservative Party balance demands for higher public service spending and lower taxation? 

Steve Brine, former Chair of Health and Social Care Committee
Rt Hon David Gauke, former Secretary of State for Justice
Rt Hon Baroness Nicky Morgan, former Secretary of State for Education

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

This event was part of the IfG's public services conference, kindly supported by UCL.

A view from the opposition: What should the Conservative Party’s vision for public services be?

On 30 October, the new government announced spending plans for 2025/26, with a spending review covering 2025/26 to 2027/28 due to be published in the spring. What are the implications of these spending plans for public service performance in 2025/26? What options should the spending review consider for raising revenue and boosting productivity? How can the government improve public services when funding is tight?

Rupert Harrison, former Chief of Staff to George Osborne and Chair of the UK’s Council of Economic Advisors (2010–15)
Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Professor Henrietta Moore, Founder and Director of the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity
Rachel Sylvester, political columnist at The Times and Chair of the Times Health Commission 

This session will be chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

This event was part of the IfG's public services conference, kindly supported by UCL.

Funding public services: What do spending plans mean for performance?

An in conversation with Lord Blunkett, former Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Education and Employment, and Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

This event was part of the IfG's public services conference, kindly supported by UCL.

In conversation with Lord Blunkett

The Labour government has inherited an NHS in crisis. Pre-existing challenges of growing demand, an ageing population, and high levels of staff vacancies have been exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in record backlogs and waiting times.

With substantial increases in hospital funding and staffing failing to turn performance round, the new government must help the NHS through the immediate crisis, set it on a sustainable long-term footing and consider the need for more fundamental reform.

Should the NHS focus more on preventing, rather than treating, illness? Could the NHS become more local? Are the new Integrated Care Systems working or should they be reformed? How successful have past NHS reforms been?

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

Paul Corrigan, Expert adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care
Penny Dash, Chair of NHS North West London Integrated Care Board
Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First
Thomas Cawston, Corporate Affairs Lead at Novartis UK

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

This event was kindly supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK.

What kind of reform does the NHS need?

The Institute for Government was pleased to welcome Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister (DFM) of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, for an 'in conversation' event on 18 November 2024.

The DFM reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum and the 25th anniversary of Scottish devolution. She also discussed the state of Scotland's economy and public services in light of the UK budget, and the Scottish government's policy and legislative agenda.

The DFM was in conversation with Akash Paun, Programme Director for Devolution, which was followed by Q&A with the live and online audience.

In conversation with Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland

Thirty years ago, following a series of high-profile political scandals, John Major set up the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) to advise him – and future prime ministers – on ethics and behaviour. So has the CSPL been a success – and what might come next for standards in public life?

Over the last three decades the committee has been an influential voice on the standards expected of people in public office, including setting out the seven principles of public life that apply to politicians, public officials and frontline staff and the establishment of standards regulators including the parliamentary commissioner and the Electoral Commission.

However, recent scandals like ‘partygate’ and controversies over the acceptance of gifts, alongside reports from the infected blood and Grenfell inquiries, demonstrate that work on embedding transparency and ethical behaviour remains unfinished.

How can the committee respond to challenges posed by increased use of AI in the public sector? What more could be done to build greater trust in politicians and public services? And what difference could the Labour government’s planned Ethics and Integrity Commission make?

To answer these questions, and more, we were joined by:

Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Pippa Crerar, Political Editor at The Guardian
Daniel Greenberg CB, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection

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

What next for standards in public life?

Following weeks of interviews and much speculation, Sir Chris Wormald has been confirmed as the new cabinet secretary. After a long civil service career, including stints as permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education and Skills, Wormald will succeed Simon Case and begin work as the country's most senior civil servant. Keir Starmer has said that it “will require nothing less than the complete rewiring of the British state to deliver bold and ambitious long-term reforms”  – so how can Wormald meet that challenge?

What is the best way for the new cabinet secretary to work with Keir Starmer and other senior ministers? How does a strong cabinet secretary add to the effectiveness of a government? How can Wormald change the way the civil service works so that it can best deliver the government's priorities? What steps can he take to restore civil service morale? And how might his experiences leading government departments help him approach the job of cabinet secretary?

This special IfG webinar answered these questions – and yours – with a brilliant panel featuring:

Dr Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
Sir David Lidington, Cabinet Office minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 2018–19
Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

The new cabinet secretary: Can Sir Chris Wormald rewire the British state?

The government has set out its intention to support the civil service with the necessary tools to deliver for the public. As the IfG has argued, reforms to improve the capability of the civil service are needed – particularly in a tight fiscal situation where efficient and effective government is essential. We believe there are a variety of areas for attention. These include reducing staff churn, improving external recruitment, and seizing the opportunities of new technology.

How is the civil service planning to address these questions while supporting the government’s agenda and delivering the prime minister’s promise to build a ‘government of service’? How can issues, like pay and lower morale, be addressed? And what will the civil service look like in 2030?

We were delighted to host Cat Little, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, to discuss these questions and more. She was in conversation with IfG Director and CEO Dr Hannah White. 

In conversation with Cat Little, Civil Service Chief Operating Officer

The government’s devolution white paper – published on 16 December – will set out the detail of Labour’s promised ‘devolution revolution’. Ministers plan to further empower England’s existing 12 metro mayors, to extend devolution to the whole of England, and to reorganise local government.  

But what exactly will the white paper commit the government to do? Which powers will be devolved, to where? How will mayors be involved in delivering the government’s growth, energy and public service missions? How will the proposed reforms to local government work? And what challenges lie ahead for the government in implementing this ambitious agenda?

The panel:

Matthew Fright, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
Thomas Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government

What does Labour’s devolution white paper mean for England?

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

Stay up to date with all of our commentary, analysis and events by visiting our website and subscribing to our newsletter.

In conversation with Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland

Institute for Government

Related tracks