What 2021 means for the UK and the EU

<p>As the 31 December deadline approaches, and with the text of the EU/UK deal made available just days before the UK leaves the transition period, this episode of IfG LIVE brings together a panel of business and Brexit experts to discuss what will change on 1 January 2021, how businesses are preparing, and what more the government should do to provide support.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Panellists:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Dr Anna Jerzewska, independent customs and trade advisor</li><li>Sally Jones, Trade Strategy and Brexit Lead at EY</li><li>Allie Renison, Head of EU and Trade Policy at the Institute of Directors</li><li>Maddy Thimont Jack, associate direction at the Institute for Government</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The discussion was chaired by Jill Rutter, senior fellow at the Institute for Government</p><br><p>Audio production by Candice McKenzie</p><p>#IfGBrexit</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p>The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement was published on Christmas Eve, just a week before the transition period was due to end.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So what does the deal mean for the UK – and for its relationship with the EU? What will change for businesses? How will data be shared? Will the EU and the UK continue to work closely on security issues? How was the contentious issue of fishing finally sorted? And what does ‘taking back control’ really mean in practice?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Institute for Government Brexit team assembled for a special Brexit deal podcast to make sense of what has been agreed and what will happen on January 1. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, in conversation with Maddy Thimont Jack (Associate Director), James Kane (Associate), Georgina Wright (Associate), and Joe Marshall (Senior Researcher). Audio production by Candice McKenzie.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>#IfGBrexit</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

Sir John Kingman in conversation with Bronwen Maddox

What will Britain’s new role outside the EU be?

Deal or No Deal, big change is coming

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Data is increasingly fundamental to modern life, with the free flow of information around the EU enabling businesses to provide services, law enforcement agencies to collaborate, and more.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The UK will lose easy access to this data after Brexit, resulting in enormous disruption – unless it can secure an 'adequacy' decision, where the European Commission recognises the UK's data protection regime as comparable to the EU's own.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This event assessed the chances of getting an adequacy decision with just weeks to go, the implications of failing to secure one, and the scope for the UK to develop its own, distinct regulatory approach on data either way.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Panellists:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><ul><li>J. Scott Marcus, Senior Fellow at Bruegel</li><li>Jeni Tennison, Vice President and Chief Strategy Adviser at the Open Data Institute</li><li>Antony Walker, Deputy CEO at techUK</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The event was chaired by Gavin Freeguard, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This event was kindly supported by techUK.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IFGBrexit?src=hashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGBrexit</a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p>Dominic Cummings’s departure from Downing Street gives the government an opportunity to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/special-advisers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reassess how it uses special advisers</a>.&nbsp;Will this crucial role change now that the prime minister’s chief adviser has left No.10? Should No.10 continue to have direct oversight of SpAds, or should the government return to&nbsp;a&nbsp;system of SpAds reporting directly to their secretary of state? And what else should be done to support – and scrutinise – the work of special advisers?</p><p>We were joined by an expert panel to discuss the questions:</p><ul><li><strong>Peter Cardwell</strong>, former special adviser to four Conservative cabinet ministers and author of&nbsp;<em>The Secret Life of Special Advisers</em></li><li><strong>Salma Shah</strong>, former special adviser to Sajid Javid (2014-2019)</li><li><strong>John McTernan</strong>, former political secretary to Tony Blair</li><li><strong>Tim Durrant</strong>, Associate Director at the Institute for Government</li></ul><p>The event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Alex Thomas</strong>, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.</p><p><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23IFGSpAds&amp;src=typed_query&amp;f=live" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGspads</a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

The independence question and the future of the UK

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A rise in Covid-19 cases has forced the government to put England into a second national lockdown. But, in contrast with the spring, some experts think people are less likely to follow the rules this time around. Is this due to growing confusion, a loss of faith in what the rules are trying to achieve, or are people simply growing tired of the restrictions on their lives? How should the government respond to any drop in adherence – and where does the balance lie between helping individuals to comply or punishing them when they don’t?</p><p>To discuss these issues, we were delighted to welcome:</p><ul><li><strong>Chris Cook</strong>, Contributing Editor at Tortoise</li><li><strong>Ann John</strong>, Professor in Public Health and Psychiatry at Swansea University and Chair of the National Advisory Group to the Welsh government</li><li><strong>Stephen Reicher</strong>, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews and member of SPI-B</li><li><strong>Anthony Yates</strong>, former Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham</li></ul><p>The event was&nbsp;chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Emma Norris</strong>, Director of Research at the Institute for Government.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ifgcorona?src=hashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>#IfGcorona</strong></a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p>As the UK-EU negotiations on the future relationship approach the endgame, the Institute for Government Brexit team discuss the latest on the talks, what will change for the UK on 1 January 2021, whether a deal actually makes a difference, and just how ready the UK is for a deal or no deal outcome.</p><p>Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, in conversation with&nbsp;Maddy Thimont Jack (Associate Director),&nbsp;Jess Sargeant (Senior Researcher),&nbsp;and&nbsp;Joe Marshall (Senior Researcher).&nbsp;Audio production by Candice McKenzie.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IFGBrexit?src=hashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGBrexit</a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

Reform at the centre of government

<p>In his new book,&nbsp;<em>Imperialism and Development – the East African groundnut scheme and its legacy</em>,&nbsp;<strong>Dr Nicholas Westcott</strong>, Director of the Royal African Society, explores one of the most expensive and disastrous development schemes ever undertaken by a British government. What lessons can be learned, more than 70 years on, from the ill-fated launch of a scheme to grow peanuts in Tanganyika (now Tanzania)? How are major decisions on major projects made today? Who is held accountable if they go wrong? How do civil servants and ministers work together to ensure money isn’t wasted on major projects? What has&nbsp;<em>actually</em>&nbsp;changed, since the groundnut scheme was abandoned in 1951, to ensure mega projects don’t become mega disasters?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Bronwen Maddox, Director at the Institute for Government is in conversation with&nbsp;<strong>Dr Nicholas Westcott,&nbsp;</strong>Director of the Royal African Society,&nbsp;<strong>Rt Hon Baroness Amos</strong>, former UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and former Secretary of State for International Development,&nbsp;<strong>Professor John Kay</strong>, economist and former&nbsp;<em>Financial Times</em>&nbsp;columnist,&nbsp;<strong>Giles Wilkes</strong>, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.&nbsp;Audio production by Candice McKenzie</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

How can the government persuade the public to prepare?

<p>The coronavirus crisis has placed unprecedented pressure on public services, which have had to cope with increased costs, large workforce absences and the difficulties of providing services while maintaining social distancing. In response to the pandemic, the government has pledged £68.7bn since March in support, and suspended governance and regulatory requirements. At the same time services have made greater use of technology, and organisations developed new ways of working.</p><p>How successful have these changes been in maintaining the availability of public services? Which changes should continue beyond the crisis? What does the government need to do to make that possible?</p><p>This event launched the fifth edition of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/our-work/performance-tracker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Performance Tracker</em></a>, an analysis of the performance of five key public services during the pandemic: hospitals, general practice, adult social care, schools and criminal courts.</p><p><strong>Graham Atkins</strong>, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government, presented the key findings.</p><p>To discuss, our panel included:</p><ul><li><strong>Sarah Neville</strong>, Global Pharmaceuticals Editor at the<em>&nbsp;Financial Times</em></li><li><strong>Professor Andrew Hardy</strong>, CEO of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and President of CIPFA</li></ul><p>This event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Nick Davies</strong>, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.</p><p><em>Performance Tracker is produced in partnership with Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).</em></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PerformanceTracker?src=hashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#PerformanceTracker</a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p>On 3 November 2020, US citizens will elect their next president. The result will have bearings not only on the US, but also on the rest of the world. This event explored what the US election will mean for the UK–US special relationship, the prospects for a future trade deal and joint action on the global stage.</p><p>Panellists:</p><ul><li><strong>Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP</strong>, Chair of the Defence Select Committee</li><li><strong>Sophia Gaston</strong>, Director of the British Foreign Policy Group</li><li><strong>Dr Leslie Vinjamuri</strong>, Director, US and Americas Programme and Dean, Queen Elizabeth II Academy at Chatham House</li><li><strong>Sir Peter Westmacott</strong>, Senior Adviser at Chatham House and former British Ambassador to the US (2012–16)</li></ul><p>The event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Georgina Wright</strong>, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IfGPOTUS2020?src=hashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGPOTUS2020</a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/internal-market-bill" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UK Internal Market Bill</a>&nbsp;has sparked controversy on multiple fronts. It has wide-ranging implications for devolution, placing constraints on the exercise of devolved policy powers. The UK government argues it is simply replacing frameworks that existed in EU law, while the Scottish and Welsh government have argued that the bill is a “power grab” by Westminster. And by the government’s own admission, some provisions, if triggered, would empower ministers to break international law and override elements of the Northern Ireland protocol.</p><p>As the bill enters the Lords, peers look poised to make amendments. This event explored issues in the bill, the likely amendments and what this will all mean for the Union.</p><p>Panellists:</p><ul><li><strong>Rt Hon the Baroness Smith of Basildon</strong>, Shadow Leader of the House of Lords</li><li><strong>Rt Hon the Lord Bruce of Bennachie</strong>, Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson on Scotland</li><li><strong>Rt Hon the Lord Dunlop</strong>, former Minister for Scotland and Northern Ireland</li><li><strong>Jess Sargeant</strong>, Senior Researcher, Institute for Government</li></ul><p>The event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Maddy Thimont Jack</strong>, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p>The UK’s policing and intelligence communities cooperate closely with their EU counterparts, sharing intelligence and collaborating on cross border investigations to fight crime and tackle terrorism.</p><p>This event considered the implications of Brexit for this cooperation, including the impact on data-sharing and the UK’s use of the European Arrest Warrant..</p><p>Panellists</p><ul><li><strong>Patrick Calvar</strong>, Special Advisor, Institut Montaigne; Director-General, French Interior Security (2012-2017)</li><li><strong>Sir Julian King</strong>, Visiting Policy Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute; European Commissioner for the Security Union (2016-2019)</li><li><strong>Naomi Long MLA</strong>, Minister of Justice, Northern Ireland Executive</li><li><strong>Sir Robert Wainwright</strong>, Partner, Deloitte; Director, Europol (2009-2018)</li></ul><p>The event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Georgina Wright</strong>, Senior Researcher, Institute for Government</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IFGBrexit?src=hashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGBrexit</a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p>As the deadline for reaching a deal with the EU approaches, state aid remains a major obstacle to any future partnership. A recent IfG paper,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/state-aid?inf_contact_key=9106aff7c66d481b2ef51568e7e19e9b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Beyond State Aid</em></a>, set out why the UK should adopt a domestic subsidy control regime, deal or no deal. But the government has so far been unwilling to commit to a domestic regime, or to any further commitments on subsidies that could secure a deal with the EU. And the government is legislating to override the state aid provisions of the Northern Ireland protocol agreed with the EU last year through its controversial UK Internal Market Bill.</p><p>Both sides are now making positive noises about the prospect of a deal, but on state aid their public positions remain very far apart and both will need to move if a deal is to be reached.</p><p>The event asks:</p><ul><li>Why is state aid an issue in the negotiations?</li><li>Is a compromise possible with the EU?</li><li>With the end of the Brexit implementation period looming, should and can the UK plot a new course on state aid rules?</li><li>How can the state aid provisions in the Northern Ireland protocol be addressed?</li></ul><p>Panellists</p><ul><li><strong>George Peretz QC,&nbsp;</strong>Barrister at&nbsp;Monckton Chambers</li><li><strong>Allie Renison,&nbsp;</strong>Head of EU and Trade Policy at the Institute of Directors</li><li><strong>James Webber,&nbsp;</strong>Partner at Shearman &amp; Sterling</li></ul><p>This event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Thomas Pope</strong>, Senior Economist at the Institute for Government.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IFGStateAid" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGstateaid</a></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

Ensuring a ‘race to the top’ for the environment?

<p>The coronavirus crisis has hit children’s social care. The disruption caused by the lockdown and continuing restrictions has forced social workers to conduct visits with children remotely, local authorities to take a less rigid approach to procurement, and the government to temporarily remove some statutory protections for vulnerable children.</p><p>The crisis followed a decade of big increases in spending on child protection, but severe cuts to universal services such as children’s centres. Local authorities have persistently overspent on these services but the increase in spending has not kept pace with demand.</p><p>Ahead of the spending review, this event looked at what level of funding is needed for children's social care, what the right balance is between early intervention and crisis support and which of the changes made in response to the crisis should be kept.</p><p>Our panel included:</p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>David Simmonds MP</strong>, member of the Commons Education Select Committee</li><li><strong>Jenny Coles</strong>, Director of Children’s Services at Hertfordshire County Council and President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services</li><li><strong>Kathy Evans</strong>, Chief Executive of Children England</li><li><strong>Rob Whiteman</strong>, Chief Executive of CIPFA</li></ul><p><br></p><p>The event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Nick Davies</strong>, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IFGpublicservices?src=hashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGpublicservices</a></p><br><p><em>We would like to thank the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for supporting this event.</em></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

How to revive the Sewel convention

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p>At the end of the year the UK will leave the single market and customs union: goods crossing the border between Great Britain and the EU will be subject to customs formalities for the first time in nearly 30 years, as well as new regulatory checks. The Northern Ireland protocol also means that there will be new rules for goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.</p><br><p>With just months to go, new IT systems and infrastructure still need to be put in place, additional staff need to be recruited, and businesses will need to be ready to comply with these new trading requirements. But there is still some uncertainty about how some aspects of the border, particularly in the Irish Sea, will work in practice.</p><br><p>To discuss these issues, we were joined by a panel of experts, including those representing sectors that will play a critical role in ensuring the UK border works effectively from the end of the year.</p><br><p>Panellists:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Baroness Verma, Conservative Peer and Chair of the Lords EU Goods Sub-Committee</li><li>William Bain, Policy Adviser to the British Retail Consortium</li><li>Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive of the British Ports Association</li><li>Alex Veitch, Head of Public Policy at Logistics UK (formerly the Freight Transport Association)</li></ul><p><br></p><p>This event was chaired by Maddy Thimont Jack, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government</p><p><strong>#IfGBrexit</strong></p><p><br></p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>

Views from the UK and overseas

With guests David Gauke, Una O’Brien and Tom McTague