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Institute for Government

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

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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?

What will the return of Donald Trump to the White House mean for Keir Starmer, the government and British politics?

- Mark Landler, London Bureau Chief at The New York Times
- Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House

This panel was chaired by Catherine Haddon, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Breakfast session: US election – The night after president Trump’s inauguration

Following his speech, Rt Hon Darren Jones MP was in conversation with Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government.

Government keynote: Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

As the spending review approaches, this session, featuring IfG senior fellow Sam Freedman, explored how the government can best use its missions – and milestones – to shape its spending choices.

- Nehal Davison, Programme Director at the Institute for Government
- Cassia Rowland, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government
- Giles Wilkes, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government

This panel was chaired by Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government.

How to embed a mission-led approach in the spending review

Local government has faced huge financial pressures, leaving residents across England struggling to access services. Featuring presentations from council leaders, this panel explored what can be done to turn around performance. 

Presentations from:

- Jenny Rowlands, Chief Executive of Camden Council
- Claire Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Sheffield City Council

Panel:
- Hilary Cottam, author, innovator and change maker and Honorary Professor at the Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose at UCL
- Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee
- Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State (Minister for Local Government and English Devolution)

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

How to fix local government

Alex Burghart MP was in conversation with Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government

In conversation with Alex Burghart MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Following her speech, Daisy Cooper MP was in conversation with Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government

Liberal Democrat keynote: Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats

This expert panel assessed how Labour has performed since returning to government, and what challenges – and opportunities – await in 2025. 

Polling presentation by Joe Twyman, Director of Deltapoll.

- Claire Ainsley, Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal at the Progressive Policy Institute
- Anushka Asthana, Deputy Political Editor at ITV News
- Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation

This panel was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

Six months on: How is the Labour government performing?

- Dr Hannah White OBE, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government 
- Phillip Woolley, Partner, Head of Public Sector Consulting at Grant Thornton UK LLP

Welcome and opening remarks

Two of England’s elected mayors join an expert panel to explore how well mayors are working with central government – and what powers they need.

- Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley
- Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands

This panel was chaired by Akash Paun, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.

Government keynote: Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

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