Developments in Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy

The IFG speaks to the Conservative and Unionist leader in Scotland

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It has been a rocky first six weeks for the Northern Ireland protocol, which came into force on 31 December last year.</p><p>Since the UK left the Brexit transition period, Northern Ireland has seen empty supermarket shelves, cancelled deliveries, and retailers temporarily pulling some products. Then came the UK’s vaccines row with the EU, and the EU’s threat to take unilateral action to disregard aspects of the protocol. While that decision was swiftly reversed after strong condemnation from politicians in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK, but it has been followed by increasingly vocal calls from Unionist parties to do away with the protocol entirely.</p><p>This event looked at how the protocol is operating, what solutions might be found to fix its early problems, and what opportunities the protocol presents for Northern Ireland.&nbsp;</p><p>Speakers</p><ul><li><strong>Aodhán Connolly</strong>, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium</li><li><strong>Professor Katy Hayward</strong>, Professor of Political Sociology at Queen’s University Belfast and Senior Fellow at UK in a Changing Europe</li><li><strong>Neale Richmond TD</strong>, Fine Gael spokesperson on European Affairs</li><li><strong>Simon Hoare MP</strong>, Chair of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee</li></ul><p>The event was&nbsp;chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Jess Sargeant</strong>, Senior Researcher at the 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>

Discussing government use of science advice in the Covid crisis

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p>The UK’s energy policy is at a critical turning point, with the government facing several key decisions as it tries to meet the UK’s ambitious 2050 net zero target. The energy white paper, published in December 2020, was an important step, but there are big questions over the future of nuclear power, how to support technologies like carbon capture and storage, and what industry needs to do to prepare for electrification.</p><p>At this event, experts discussed whether the UK government and the civil service are equipped to meet these energy policy challenges, how decisions should be made, and what the government’s priorities should be in the years ahead.</p><p>The panel also discussed the IfG’s recent report,<em>&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/energy-policy-making" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Evidence in energy policy making: what the UK can learn from overseas</em></a>.</p><p>On our panel to discuss these questions were:</p><ul><li><strong>Baroness Brown of Cambridge (Professor Dame Julia King)</strong>, Deputy Chair of the Climate Change Committee and Chair of the Carbon Trust</li><li><strong>Guy Newey</strong>, Strategy and Performance Director at the Energy Systems Catapult and former special adviser at DECC and BEIS</li><li><strong>Emma Pinchbeck</strong>, Chief Executive of Energy UK</li><li><strong>Will McDowall</strong>, Senior Researcher 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="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ifgenergy&amp;src=typed_query" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGenergy</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>

In conversation with Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP

Annual launch of the IFG's flagship report

<p><em>This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event</em></p><p>The Institute for Government hosted&nbsp;the annual lecture by&nbsp;<strong>Bronwen Maddox</strong>, its director.</p><p>In her speech, Bronwen looked at the government’s performance in the extraordinary circumstances of 2020 and what 2021 might bring.</p><p>Her discussion was followed by a response from&nbsp;<strong>Professor David Runciman</strong>&nbsp;and the event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Sir Richard Lambert</strong>.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IFGDirector?f=live" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#IfGDirector</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 31 December 2020 at 11pm&nbsp;the UK entered a new relationship with the EU – ushering in huge changes for businesses, individuals and government. The Northern Ireland protocol also took effect, introducing new customs and regulatory barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.&nbsp;</p><p>Formal negotiations are now done, but there is much still to do as the UK and EU settle outstanding issues and move to implement the agreements reached. But so far there is little indication of how the government envisages involving parliament.</p><p>This event explored how both the Commons and the Lords should hold the government to account, and whether parliament has the committee structures and resources necessary to do this effectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>We were joined by a panel of parliamentarians and academics:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP</strong>, Former Chair of the Exiting the EU and Future Relationship with the EU Committees</li><li><strong>Brigid Fowler</strong>, Senior Researcher at the Hansard Society</li><li>​<strong>Rt Hon David Jones MP</strong>, Member of the European Scrutiny and Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committees</li><li><strong>Lord Kinnoull</strong>, Chair of the House of Lords EU Committee</li></ul><p>The event was chaired by&nbsp;<strong>Dr</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Hannah White OBE</strong>, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IfGBrexit?f=live" 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>

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>