Can the UK weather the Middle East storm?

Can the UK weather the Middle East storm?

Author: Institute for Government March 20, 2026 Duration: 32:04
How prepared is the government - and how healthy is the economy - for dealing with another energy bill crisis? The podcast team review the prime minister's response and assess the UK's resilience. The chancellor has delivered a big speech promising more financial devolution to English mayors and closer practical alignment with the EU, but do Rachel Reeves's plans add up? Plus: Should we fire all the permanent secretaries and directors general and replace them with true believers throughout the civil service? No, not a new IfG report but the latest policy from Reform UK.  Hannah White presents. With Giles Wilkes, Rosa Hodgkin, and Hannah Keenan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government picks up the conversation where the headlines leave off. With a new Labour administration in place after fourteen years, the sheer scale of its agenda comes into sharp focus. This podcast, from the Institute for Government, digs into the practical realities of governing. Each episode moves beyond the political rhetoric to examine how policies are actually made and implemented, exploring the pressures on public services and the civil service tasked with delivering change. We consider the government's ambitious missions and whether ideas like leveraging AI or fostering a new culture can genuinely "rewire" the state to meet complex challenges. The discussions aim to identify where government is functioning effectively and, just as importantly, where the obstacles lie. By speaking with experts, analysts, and those with firsthand experience, the series provides a clear-eyed look at the mechanics of power and the ongoing effort to turn political goals into tangible results. It’s for anyone curious about the forces that shape our public institutions and the day-to-day work of making government happen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
Podcast Episodes
The Trump challenge: Chaos, confusion and government communications [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:14
According to the Washington Post, Donald Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims during his first term as US president – and Trump 2.0 has also shown little regard for facts or evidence. Unexpected presidential anno…
Should the U.K. do budgets differently?  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:12
The chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility has gone, the Chancellor is being accused of misleading the public. So how did that budget go? Richard Hughes has taken responsibility for the accidental leak of the budg…
Autumn budget 2025: What is Rachel Reeves’ plan for the economy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:16
Just hours after Rachel Reeves sets out the budget to parliament, this webinar brought together a team of Institute for Government (IfG) experts to share their instant and essential analysis of the chancellor’s plans. Wh…
In conversation with John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:15
Scotland is just six months away from May’s crucial parliamentary election, with First Minister John Swinney preparing to lead the SNP into one of the most unpredictable campaigns since the party entered government almos…
John Swinney’s goals for Scotland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:29
The First Minister for Scotland joined the Inside Briefing team to discuss football, the political context in Scotland ahead of the UK budget, and the SNP’s vision for Scotland’s future. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary ann…
Keir Starmer’s government: Traitors or Faithfuls? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:08
Ambitious Labour politicians might or might not be eyeing up the top job. No. 10 isn’t working well. The Prime Minister is on the defensive. Here we go again. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, is in the headlines - ac…
Rachel Reeves and the art of pitch rolling the Budget [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:54
Taxes set to rise? Spending set to be cut? Promises to be kept – or maybe broken? Whatever chancellors choose to reveal on budget day, it’s normally a good idea to let people know what they can expect… So has Rachel Reev…
Home Office truths with Shabana Mahmood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
The Home Office is not fit for purpose. At least that’s the verdict of the home secretary. So what’s the problem and how can it be fixed? Former home office special adviser Hannah Guerin joins the podcast team for a deep…