Keir Starmer and the cost of security

Keir Starmer and the cost of security

Author: Institute for Government March 13, 2026 Duration: 42:21
The conflict in the Middle East has already seen Keir Starmer fall out with Donald Trump - but will the economic fallout of war cause even bigger problems for the government?  Former government adviser Tim Leunig joins the podcast to discuss what the prime minister and Rachel Reeves could do to ease a growing cost of living crisis. In a big week for the government, the controversial courts and tribunals bill returned to the House of Commons. The government is - in its words - “throwing the kitchen sink” at the problems facing the criminal justice system, but will its radical reforms have the desired effect?  And Digital ID is back, with the government setting out its plans for “government by app” . But will it convince people of the merits of going digital?   Presented by Catherine Haddon With Jill Rutter, Cassia Rowland and Tim Leunig 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: 100

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government
Podcast Episodes
Keir Starmer gets ready for war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:07
The newly-published Strategic Defence Review sets out how the UK can fight and win a full-scale war. So what is it recommending and just how dangerous is the world right now? Tom Newton Dunn, presenter of The General and…
How will Starmer rate his ministers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:17
It is one year since the 2024 general election campaign kicked off and already reshuffle rumours are doing the rounds. Adam Payne, Editor of PoliticsHome, joins us to discuss whether a reshuffle is a good way to inject e…
THE ART OF THE BREXIT DEAL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:51
Keir Starmer has signed off on a so-called UK/EU reset. So, what’s in the new deal and what does it mean for the never-ending Brexit drama? The Guardian’s Kiran Stacey joins the podcast team to dig into the detail. Davie…
Starmer and the strangers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:26
After Keir Starmer made headlines with his warnings of an “island of strangers”, British Future’s Sunder Katwala joins the podcast team to dig into the detail of the government’s new immigration policy. Farewell to 102 P…
The Trump-Starmer trade deal: What’s the beef? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:34
Will white smoke on two trade deals help shift the narrative for Keir Starmer after a tricky week? Peter Foster, the FT’s new world trade editor, joins the podcast team to dig into the details of breakthrough agreements…
Local elections: Ready for Reform? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:01
Votes have been counted – well, most of them. So what do Thursday’s elections for four regional mayors, more than 1000 councillors and the new MP for Runcorn and Helsby mean for British politics, Keir Starmer and the Lab…
Are Starmer and Badenoch making plans for Nigel? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
As Labour jostles with Reform for polling points and the Conservatives debate the merits of cosying up to Nigel Farage's party, More in Common's Luke Tryl joins the podcast team to take stock of the polls - and what they…
Extra: What is the role of big suppliers in government procurement? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:55
Procurement is central to the operation of modern government but, following a series of high-profile scandals, is often controversial. Much of the criticism has focused on the role of the biggest suppliers, some of whom…
Trump’s Tariff Turnaround [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:06
As Donald Trump pauses his trade war (well, except in the case of China) the podcast team are joined by economist and author Duncan Weldon to make sense of the president’s wild economic rollercoaster ride – and the uncom…
Trump Declares War: Tariff Liberation Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:51
The rules of global trade have been dramatically ripped up by Donald Trump. So what is the US president’s tariff plan actually meant to do? Has a global trade war started? How big a hit will the UK economy take? And what…