<p>As the EU produces sweeping new proposals on previous red-line issues, can the Government really rewrite the <strong>Northern Ireland Protocol</strong> to everyone’s satisfaction? If Britain always intended to sign now and ditch it later, what will that do future relations with the EU? Plus, we read every page of the <strong>Coronavirus: Lessons Learned</strong> report to tease out what really matters. <strong>Adam Payne</strong> of <a href="http://politicshome.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">politicshome.com</a> is our guest.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“Will Johnson ever be able to say that Brexit is done? It’s more a case of, will he ever WANT to say that Brexit is done?”</em><strong> – Jill Rutter</strong></li><li><em>“Any future COVID inquiry will inevitably be hugely damaging to the Conservative brand –&nbsp;but this report is not going to damage this particular government.”</em><strong> –&nbsp;Adam Payne</strong></li><li><em>“It’s amazing that a report covering perhaps the biggest public health failure ever is a one-day news story.”</em><strong> –&nbsp;Jill Rutter</strong></li><li><em>“From the COVID report there’s perhaps too much emphasis on the advice and not enough on the political decision-making.” </em><strong>– Tom Sasse</strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Joe Marshall, Jill Rutter and Tom Sasse. Audio production by Alex Rees. <strong>Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk</a>&nbsp;</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>

Plus German coalitions with guest John Kampfner

With special guest Rachel Wearmouth of the Daily Mirror

<p>“Levelling-up” was one of the key Conservative manifesto pledges at the last election, and now it even has its own government department and minister, but what exactly does it mean? A new IFG paper takes a look what the Government has been saying on the subject, and the spending promises made so far.</p><br><p>Plus, next week sees the expiration of the £20 Universal Credit uplift, but how much pressure is chancellor Rishi Sunak under? And what should we expect from Keir Starmer’s first conference as Labour leader? The I’s deputy political editor <strong>Arj Singh</strong> joins us on today’s show.</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“Experts compare levelling-up to the difference between East and West Germany, which took decades” - </em><strong><em>Arj Singh</em></strong></li><li><em>“The Government are gearing up for the next election to be fought on levelling-up” - </em><strong><em>Cath Haddon</em></strong></li><li><em>“A big question is how much are we going to level-up politically with local government and city mayors?” - </em><strong><em>Cath Haddon</em></strong></li><li><em>“The problem for the Government is that they made a big increase in benefits, they now look like they’re trying to make a big cut” - </em><strong><em>Nick Timmins</em></strong></li><li><em>“This Universal Credit cut hits the areas the Government wants to level-up hardest” - </em><strong><em>Arj Singh</em></strong></li><li><em>“Keir Starmer does need to put some meat on the bones of his offer or the public will stop listening to him” - </em><strong><em>Arj Singh</em></strong></li><li><em>“Angela Rayner is positioning herself to take advantage of any slip ups from Starmer” - </em><strong><em>Arj Singh</em></strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Eleanor Shearer and Nick Timmins. Audio production by Alex Rees. <strong>Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk</a>&nbsp;</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 Boris Johnson’s long awaited cabinet reshuffle finally took place, who were the winners and losers from a day of drama in Whitehall? <em>The Daily Telegraph’s</em> Political Editor <strong>Ben Riley-Smith</strong> joins to take a look at the ministerial movements, and what effect they will have on government and policymaking.</p><br><p>And in another prime-ministerial pick, William Shawcross looks set to become Commissioner of Public Appointments. We take a look at the role, and the person who the PM wants to fill it.</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“Downing Street sees this period as a pivot point, away from COVID and towards delivering on their manifesto” - </em><strong><em>Ben Riley-Smith</em></strong></li><li><em>“This was about Johnson reshuffling the team that were loyal to him, rather than promoting rising stars” - </em><strong><em>Cath Haddon</em></strong></li><li><em>“Michael Gove has been the PM’s problem solver in the cabinet, taking on issues like the Union and Brexit planning” - </em><strong><em>Ben Riley-Smith</em></strong></li><li><em>“Deputy Prime Minister is a great title for Dominic Raab, but whether or not Johnson deputises to him is another matter” - </em><strong><em>Cath Haddon</em></strong></li><li><em>“Liz Truss has held Cabinet posts under three different Prime Ministers, it’s been a remarkable rise” - </em><strong><em>Ben Riley-Smith</em></strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon, Tom Pope and Matthew Gill. Audio production by Alex Rees. <strong>Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk</a>&nbsp;</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>

With Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie

<p>The Western intervention in Afghanistan has petered out in ignominy. Who will carry the can for Britain’s biggest foreign policy disaster in half a century? As the Foreign Office and MoD squabble, is Dominic Raab telling the truth when he blames military intelligence for this fiasco? And what does an introverted America mean for NATO and the security of the West?</p><br><p>We look at the fallout with special guests <strong>Dan Sabbagh</strong>, The Guardian’s Defence and Security Editor, and <strong>Lucy Fisher</strong>, Deputy Political Editor at the Daily Telegraph and former Defence Editor at the Times.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“The West is completely shellshocked by America’s decision to withdraw on its own timetable… This has huge repercussions for NATO which is already hanging by a thread.”</em><strong> – Lucy Fisher&nbsp;</strong></li><li><em>“If Britain had decided to commit more troops as America leaves, would the British people really have gone for it?” </em><strong>–&nbsp;Dan Sabbagh</strong></li><li><em>“The raw intelligence was absolutely correct, that the Taliban would be fast and ruthless But as it went up the food chain it went wildly wrong.” </em><strong>–&nbsp;Lucy Fisher</strong></li><li><em>“There are two ways the intelligence could have got diluted. One is overt politicisation, the other is treating it as TOO authoritative.</em><strong>” – Alex Thomas</strong></li><li><em>“My jaw was on the floor when I read that Raab and his senior team had not made a single call to the Afghan or Pakistani foreign ministries in six months.”</em><strong> – Lucy Fisher</strong></li><li><em>“There’s a clear winner here – Ben Wallace and the MoD – and a clear loser, Dominic Raab and the Foreign Office.”</em><strong> – Dan Sabbagh</strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Alex Thomas. Audio production by Alex Rees. <strong>Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk</a>&nbsp;</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>

With guests Jacqui Smith, Kate Fall, Sam Coates of Sky News, and Steve Richards

With guest Peter Ricketts, the UK’s first National Security Adviser

<p>Prime Ministerial careers tend to end abruptly and in tears. So what does an ex-PM do next? Are today’s Prime Ministers too young to fade away gracefully? Should they avoid lobbying jobs? And when it comes to backbench politics, should they stay or should they go?</p><br><p>The IfG’s <strong>Tim Durrant</strong> discusses the mystery of the Prime Ministerial afterlife (and the lure of the comeback) with ex-Justice Secretary <strong>David Gauke</strong>, Politico’s senior political correspondent <strong>Esther Webber</strong>, Engage Britain’s Director of Advocacy and former Times political editor <strong>Francis Elliot</strong>, and the IfG’s <strong>Catherine Haddon</strong>.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“The end of your Prime Ministership can come suddenly and unexpectedly…&nbsp;It’s quite hard to see what you’re going to do.”</em><strong> –&nbsp;David Gauke</strong></li><li><em>“PMs tend to be younger now and they’re less likely to want to fade into obscurity –&nbsp;which going to the Lords would achieve quite easily.”</em><strong> – Esther Webber</strong></li><li><em>“Moments of maximum crisis like COVID are exactly when ex-PMs miss the office most.” </em><strong>–&nbsp;Francis Elliott&nbsp;</strong></li><li><em>“It’s an absorbing job, it consumes all your waking hours and it’s utterly fascinating. You’ve got status and international connections. For that to end is a wrench.”</em><strong> – David Gauke</strong></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Presented by Tim Durrant. Audio production by Alex Rees. <strong>Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk</a>&nbsp;</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 Matthew Parris, Isabel Hardman and Tim Bale

The Prime Minister’s second year under the microscope

<p><strong>Freedom Week</strong>, a Pingdemic Party, or just a temporary holiday from restrictions that will inevitably come back in autumn? Does the Government really know what it’s doing on unlocking? Plus, who did <strong>Dominic Cummings</strong>’s latest drive-by really damage: Boris Johnson or Cummings himself? And as the rise of <strong>NEDs</strong> or Non-Executive Directors is made public by the unfortunate Gina Coladangelo, do they really add value to Government, or just more cronyism?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><ul><li><em>“People watching Cummings just think, We elected the Prime Minister, not you, mate.”</em><strong> – Jill Rutter&nbsp;</strong></li><li><em>“Being cautious at the same time as celebrating Freedom Day just doesn’t stack up.”</em><strong> –&nbsp;Alex Thomas</strong></li><li><em>“There's a huge difference between what you're advised to do, and what you're required to do.”</em><strong> –&nbsp;Jill Rutter</strong></li></ul><p><br></p><br><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Jill Rutter, Alex Thomas. Matthew Gill and Tom Sasse. Audio production by Alex Rees. <strong>Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk</a>&nbsp;</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>

With guest Ben Chu, Economics Editor of BBC Newsnight

With special guest John Rentoul of The Independent

With special guest Paul Harrison, former No.10 spokesman

Plus the dawn of Great British Railways, and Michael Gove transforms government

With special guest Tom Newton Dunn of Times Radio

<p>Covid-19 will top the agenda at this month's G7 summit in Cornwall. As some countries lift restrictions and near the completion of vaccine rollouts, others face severe outbreaks or progress being derailed by new variants. No country will escape from the Covid crisis alone – a coordinated global plan which covers vaccination, surveillance and health infrastructure is essential.</p><p>To discuss how world leaders can meet these challenges and put in place long-term plans for handling the threat of Covid-19, this Institute for Government event saw&nbsp;an expert panel draw on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/covid-19-futures" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">series of roundtables</a>&nbsp;organised by the IfG and Wellcome Trust.</p><p>Our panel included:</p><ul><li><strong>Tom Whipple</strong>, Science Editor,&nbsp;<em>The Times</em></li><li><strong>Sir Suma Chakrabarti</strong>, former Permanent Secretary, DfID and the Ministry of Justice, and incoming chair of the Overseas Development Institute. President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 2012–20</li><li><strong>Dame Una O’Brien</strong>, former Permanent Secretary, UK Department of Health;&nbsp;Member of Council, London School of Hygiene and Tropical&nbsp;Medicine</li><li><strong>Professor Gagandeep Kang</strong>, Professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, India and Fellow of the Royal Society.</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=%23ifgg7&amp;src=typed_query" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>#IfGG7</strong></a></p><p><em>We would like to thank Wellcome Trust for kindly 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>

<p>What divides the great Prime Ministers from the mediocre and the just plain bad? And how does Boris Johnson measure up in those stakes? Author of <em>The Impossible Office: The History of the British Prime Minister</em> <strong>Sir Anthony Seldon</strong> and former Government advisor <strong>Salma Shah</strong> take us on a deep dive into the harsh realities of the country’s most powerful office. Is Boris Johnson really as bad a PM as Dominic Cummings says he is? And is unfitness for office just a myth?</p><p><em>• “Unfitness for office has never disqualified people as Prime Ministers. The question with Johnson is, was he unfit enough?” – </em><strong><em>Anthony Seldon</em></strong><em>&nbsp;</em></p><p><em>• “One of Prime Ministers’ strengths is a complete lack of self-awareness…&nbsp;Otherwise every day would be a duvet day.</em><strong><em>” –&nbsp;Salma Shah</em></strong></p><p><em>•&nbsp;“Every PM who’s been less successful has lacked that clear, ruthless vision. You must either have it –&nbsp;or history must throw it on your plate.” </em><strong><em>–&nbsp;Anthony Seldon</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>•&nbsp;</em></strong><em>“Sajid Javid had a knack of making your believe any decision was yours and not his.” </em><strong><em>– Salma Shah</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>•&nbsp;</em></strong><em>“So much of being a Prime Minister is a confidence trick. If confidence collapses, as it did for Theresa May, it’s all over.”</em><strong><em> –&nbsp;Anthony Seldon</em></strong></p><p>Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Cath Haddon. Audio production by Alex Rees. <strong>Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p><a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk</a>&nbsp;</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>

The fallout from Dominic Cummings’ explosive committee appearance

Plus what to expect from the COVID Inquiry