Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

The first Labour government in 14 years is facing a daunting to-do list and complex challenges at every turn. Public services are under strain. The civil service is under pressure. And ministers must deliver the government’s missions and milestones. But could Keir Starmer’s plan to “rewire the British state” – through using AI and creating a “start-up” culture – turn these challenges into opportunities?
So where is government working well and what is it doing badly? What can be done to make No10, the Treasury and the rest of government function more effectively? What can Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves do to achieve faster economic growth? What will Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives and the other opposition parties do to hold the government to account? How might Donald Trump shape British politics – and how could the UK’s relations with the EU change in the years ahead?
Get behind the scenes in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond on the weekly podcast from Britain’s leading governmental think tank, where we analyse the latest events in politics and explain what they mean. Every week on Inside Briefing, IfG director Hannah White and the team welcomes special guests for a thought-provoking conversation on what makes government work – and how to fix it when it doesn’t.

Afleveringen

Budget 2026: Does John Healey mean business?

23 oktober 2026 · 44 min
Afspelen

The budget is nearly here. So what is chancellor John Healey going to say at the Despatch Box on Wednesday? The Observer’s Ben Zaranko joins the podcast team to preview the biggest day yet in Andy Burnham’s premiership. Lees meer

The PM has said he will pull every lever he can to help with the cost of living. The chancellor has said he won’t budge from Labour’s fiscal rules - or its 2024 manifesto pledge not to raise the three main personal taxes. So are Healey’s options and what does he need to do?

Plus: How can he turn around public service performance? A new IfG report says things aren’t likely to much get better by the time of the next election. Can Healey and Burnham do anything about that gloomy prediction? We’ll reveal all.

Hannah White presents.

With Jill Rutter and Nick Davies.

Produced by Milo Hynes
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What’s on Burnham’s Brexit menu?

16 oktober 2026 · 45 min
Afspelen

With Andy Burnham trying to navigate the ever-precarious tightrope that is doing diplomacy with Donald Trump’s White House, Anand Menon joins the podcast team to weigh up the prime minister’s prospects.Burnham is also exploring a new relationship with Europe, but could that really mean reversing Brexit?Plus: Can the government fix the criminal justice system. A new IfG report has given its verdict on the performance of prisons, courts, the police and more - some good, some bad, lots of decisions for the PM to make.Presented by Alex Thomas.With Jill Rutter and Cassia Rowland.Producer by Podmasters
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Lees meer
Can Zack fight back?

9 oktober 2026 · 44 min
Afspelen

Another by-election, another win for Andy Burnham - with the Greens defeated in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Deltapoll's Joe Twyman joins the pod team to explore what the PM’s by-election double really tells us about his electoral prospects. Lees meer

It was another bad day for Green leader Zack Polanski, who was already under pressure after a difficult conference in Brighton.

Kemi Badenoch, on the other, was all smiles in Birmingham - but does the Conservative party really have grounds for optimism?

Plus: How well are schools performing? A new IfG report has the answer.

Hosted by Hannah White.

With Cath Haddon, Thomas Pope and Amber Dellar.
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Burnham goes big: What difference does it make?

30 september 2026 · 35 min
Afspelen

No lectern. No tie. And quite a few tears. Andy Burnham promised a different kind of speech. But did the prime minister deliver? Lees meer

After watching Burnham's first Labour conference speech as party leader and prime minister, Hannah White is joined in the IfG's pop-up studio in Liverpool by the IfG's Alex Thomas, IfG senior fellow (and former executive director of policy to Keir Starmer) Claire Ainsley, and More in Common's Sophie Stowers to share their instant reactions on the big speech, dissect the policy announcements, and explore what the Burnham agenda means for government.
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Mersey Mersey Me: Will Burnham pass his Labour conference test?

25 september 2026 · 47 min
Afspelen

From meeting Donald Trump in New York to heading to his first Labour conference as prime minister, it's quite some week for Andy Burnham - so what does he need to do to make a success of Labour's Liverpool gathering? LabourList editor Emma Burnell joins the podcast team to review Burnham's Trump test and preview his conference challenge. Lees meer

Plus: We take a closer look at an issue that saw Keir Starmer stumble badly, and that’s benefits reform. How could Burnham approach this thorniest of issues? A new IfG report has the answers.

Alex Thomas presents.

With Cath Haddon and Ben Paxton
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The 72 million pound questions

18 september 2026 · 41 min
Afspelen

With Westminster been rocked by the news of a record-breaking – and maybe game-changing – £72 million donation to Reform UK, new Lib Dem peer Tim Leunig joins the podcast team to assess how the government might respond, and what comes next for party political donations. Lees meer

Next up on the conference circuit are the Liberal Democrats. So how much pressure is leader Sir Ed Davey under as his party gather in Brighton this weekend?

Plus: These are uncertain times... but just how uncertain are they?
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Is Ed Miliband rethinking UK foreign policy?

10 september 2026 · 35 min
Afspelen

Foreign secretary Ed Miliband has announced UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. So what does this change of position say about UK foreign policy under Andy Burnham - and what are the possible consequences for UK domestic policy? The i's Kitty Donaldson joins the podcast team to assess the PM's big move. Lees meer

On the domestic front it was chancellor John Healey’s turn to make headlines, with a big pre-Budget speech on growth and the economy. So does this mark the dawn of a new economic policy?

Plus: Angela Rayner has hit the pause button on the Local Government Reorganisation plans. What has happened and has it all gone wrong?

Presented by Alex Thomas.

With Giles Wilkes and Akash Paun
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Burnham down the House - the new PM's Parliamentary debut

3 september 2026 · 46 min
Afspelen

The summer recess is over. Parliament is up and running. And the new prime minister gave a mammoth statement in the Commons. There were no new policy announcements, but there was a promise to do things differently. Henry Hill joins the podcast team to make sense of Andy Burnham's first day back in Parliament.Kemi Badenoch has been busy too, with the Conservative leader reshuffling her top team and bringing in, amongst others, a new chancellor and foreign secretary. So what is she trying to do and what difference could it make?Plus: Farewell to Keir Starmer. As the former prime minister is quitting parliament, we give the Inside Briefing verdict. Lees meer

Hannah White presents

With Cath Haddon
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Totally Rewired - Can Burnham really do government differently?

28 augustus 2026 · 57 min
Afspelen

Andy Burnham has clocked up a month mark in Number 10. As the long recess draws to a close and Parliament prepares to return, the Guardian's Kiran Stacey joining the podcast to look back on a summer of speeches, policy announcements, guitar-playing and a lot of social media game. Lees meer

How has Burnham handled the familiar problem of prison capacity and the headache of early release schemes? Do his devolution plans really add up and will Number 10 North make any difference to government? Is this PM's plan for social care finally going to deliver reform? And after a relatively quiet summer recess, what are the challenges heading his way once Parliament returns?

Plus: Is the new prime minister really going to play in the big Labour v the Lobby football match at Labour Party conference?

Hannah White presents.

With Jill Rutter, Cassia Rowland, Matthew Fright and Stuart Hoddinott
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Mid-term prime ministers – Episode 3: Adjusting to the role

20 augustus 2026 · 37 min
Afspelen

Every new prime minister arrives in No.10 with a view about what brought down their predecessor as well as a ringside seat to the downfall. So after convincing their colleagues why a change of PM is necessary, what happens when the new PM's belief in his or her skills and talents meet the reality of the biggest job in British politics? Lees meer

How easy it is to learn on the job? What is the right balance between continuity and reinventing the government? And how good is the UK at preparing for mid-term changes of PM?

In this final episode of this special IfG podcast series we’re going to look at how incoming mid-term prime ministers adjust to the role, the dilemma of whether to call an early general election, and what lessons former mid-term transitions hold for Andy Burnham’s premiership – or for future mid-term PMs.

Presented by Catherine Haddon

Featuring Gus O’Donnell, Mark Sedwill, Helen MacNamara, Simon Case, Stewart Wood, Salma Shah, Lee Cain, Asa Bennett and Rupert Yorke.
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