<p>First birthday edition! Is Boris Johnson’s tiers-based compromise on fighting COVID worse than simply biting the bullet of a national lockdown? Is Westminster command-and-control creating an irreparable breach between London, Scotland, Wales and the North of England? And does that road end in full devolution? <strong>JACK BLANCHARD</strong>, UK politics editor at <a href="http://politico.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">politico.com</a>, is our special guest.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“It’s very hard to find anyone who thinks the tiers approach is really going to work.”</em><strong><em> –&nbsp;Jack Blanchard</em></strong></li><li><em>“We assume that the Government has good reasons for its approach, not just ‘We’re frightened of the lockdown sceptics’.”</em><strong><em> – Jill Rutter</em></strong></li><li><em>“There is no worse way to win hearts and minds than to have scenes of angry disagreement like we saw this week.”</em><strong><em> – Jack Blanchard</em></strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter and Cath Haddon. <strong>Audio production by Alex Rees</strong></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>

An IfG Live Extra

<p>Is the smorgasbord of <strong>Big Ideas</strong> that Boris Johnson announced to the virtual Conservative Conference actually deliverable? Do plans for the Saudi Arabia of wind, expanded social care and a New Jerusalem all at once contradict one another? And as the Corona bills come in, is crunch time on the way for former distributor of good news and sunshine Rishi Sunak? Special guest <strong>SALMA SHAH</strong>, former advisor to Sajid Javid, joins us for the IfG’s own autumn statement.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><em>“Nobody doubts that the Government can make big announcements. The question is whether they can deliver it.”</em><strong><em> – Jill Rutter</em></strong></li><li><em>“This wasn’t a traditionally Conservative speech and this isn’t a traditional Conservative government.”</em><strong><em> –&nbsp;Salma Shah</em></strong></li><li><em>“When we hear about 30 year mortgages or social care or offshore wind, it’s fair to wonder why nobody’s delivered them so far. And the answer is, it’s hard.”</em><strong><em> - Giles Wilkes</em></strong></li><li><em>“We’ve had two consecutive governments that are, for Conservatives, amazingly uninterested in what business has to say.”</em><strong><em> –&nbsp;Jill Rutter</em></strong></li></ul><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter and Giles Wilkes. <strong>Audio production by Alex Rees</strong></p><br><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>

<p>As the EU gives notice of legal action against Britain, are the trade talks about to enter the Tunnel, the Submarine or total meltdown? Is Lindsay Hoyle right to accuse the Government of holding Parliament in contempt with its overreach on Corona powers? Is a Tory backbench rebellion brewing already – and could some internecine warfare be a good look for embattled Boris Johnson? And can Dominic Cummings just snap his fingers and bring a billion-dollar tech giant to life just like that?&nbsp;</p><br><p><em>“This looks like an increasing war between backbenchers and Boris Johnson and his advisors.” – </em><strong><em>Jill Rutter</em></strong></p><p><em>“The Government thinks that under these circumstances, Parliament should be a rubber stamp. But MPs think you make better policy by debating it.” – </em><strong><em>Hannah White</em></strong></p><p><em>“It’s not always a bad look for a PM to be fighting a lone battle, as long as it’s for the right thing.” – </em><strong><em>Giles Wilkes</em></strong></p><p><em>“The Government seems in tune with public opinion but not with the libertarian wing of its own party.” – </em><strong><em>Jill Rutter</em></strong></p><br><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Hannah White, Jill Rutter and Giles Wilkes. Audio production by Alex Rees</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 COVID outlook worsens dramatically, can Boris Johnson make another six months of restrictions stick? Is Rishi Sunak’s new Job Support Scheme just the old furlough in disguise, and will it hold back a tide of autumn job losses? And how prepared are public services for an extended crisis? Special guest <strong>Sir David Lidington</strong>, former de facto Deputy Prime Minister, explains the consequences of a new near-lockdown for consumer confidence, public health and the Government’s stability.&nbsp;</p><br><p><em>“If you don’t get the tax receipts coming in from the economy then you’ll have some very difficult decisions about public spending.” –</em><strong> David Lidington</strong></p><br><p><em>“The Government needs to be seen to reach out… Metro mayors and local authorities need to be partners not adversaries.” </em>– <strong>David Lidington</strong></p><br><p><em>“MPs who brief the papers about how unhappy they are generally do not speak for the majority of the Parliamentary party”</em> – <strong>David Lidington</strong></p><br><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Nick Davies and Gemma Tetlow. Audio production by Alex Rees</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>

With guest Anoosh Chakelian of the New Statesman

<p>As Boris Johnson attempts to feed the Withdrawal Bill into a shredder marked “Internal Market Bill”, what does it mean for the rule of law, civil servants and the devolved nations when a government tries to abrogate international law? And as a new IfG report shows the Government’s plans to reach zero carbon by 2050 are way off track, what does it need to do to meet this ambitious target – and what will it cost?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br><p>“I can’t see any way this gets through the Lords in its current form.” – <strong>Alex Thomas&nbsp;</strong></p><p>“The nature of the law is, you don’t get to choose when to follow it – because it’s the law.” – <strong>Raphael Hogarth</strong></p><p>“Some of the rationale for this is reasonable and some of it is Mad Max chaos and destruction.” – <strong>Alex Thomas</strong></p><br><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Maddy Thimont-Jack, Alex Thomas and Raphael Hogarth. Audio production by Alex Rees</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>

What's in store for the new Cabinet Secretary?

The IfG Brexit team on the rocky path to Dec 31

With guest Sonia Sodha of The Observer

With special guest Rafael Behr of The Guardian

With guest Jennifer Williams of the Manchester Evening News

With guest Sir Lawrence Freedman, former member of the Iraq War inquiry

Plus the Russia Report: what should happen next?

With special guest GORDON CORERA, BBC Security Correspondent

With guest Rupert Harrison, ex-Chief of Staff to George Osborne

A bonus conversation with Alex Thomas of the IfG

With guest Robert Shrimsley of the Financial Times

Can you reform the Civil Service in the middle of a crisis?

Can Boris Johnson put COVID behind him?

Insourcing probation, assimilating DFiD

Towards a Corona inquiry with special guest Steve Richards

Our full-length conversation with the New York Times’ London bureau chief

With special guests Rowland Manthorpe of SKY and Mark Landler of the NY Times

With special guest TIM MONTGOMERIE