The Prisons Crisis Strikes Back

The Prisons Crisis Strikes Back

Author: Institute for Government October 23, 2025 Duration: 34:57
Prisons nearly bursting. Court cases backlogged. Prisoners released early. It couldn’t happen again, could it? Former BBC journalist and Labour adviser Danny Shaw joins the podcast team to discuss a brand new IfG report into the state of the criminal justice system. In another difficult week for the government, the inquiry into grooming gangs has run into problems after at least four members of the victims and survivors panel quit in protest at how the government has handled the process so far. Can Louise Casey fix it? Plus: Prince Andrew, the Royal family, and the government. What happens next?   Catherine Haddon presents. With Alex Thomas and Cassia Rowland.  Produced by Milo Hynes. 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
The Southport attacks: Has terrorism changed? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
The details of how Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer, plotted his attack have forced the government into action. Ciaran Martin, the former CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, joins the podcast team to discuss…
Government 2025 at The IfG: Darren Jones Keynote Speech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:34
In a speech at the IfG this week, Darren Jones MP, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, insisted that “we are long overdue a reckoning with government spending and a realistic appraisal of how we're using taxpayers' mone…
Rachel Reeves takes a gilt trip [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:10
It has been a tricky couple of days for the chancellor. But how much trouble is Rachel Reeves really in and how much attention should people be paying to the markets? Politico’s Esther Webber joins the podcast team to lo…
Happy New Year, Keir? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:33
Tricky poll ratings, gloomy economic news, and Elon Musk's online onslaught have made for a tricky start to 2025 for Keir Starmer, but how much should No10 be worrying? Theo Bertram, a former adviser to Tony Blair and Go…
2024 in Review: The Start of the Keir Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
It has been quite some year for British politics. Sure, there were no mass-ministerial resignations, rule-breaking No10 gatherings or economy-shaking mini budgets, but July’s general election saw a change of ruling party…
Christmas Special: IfG Book Club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:44
The IfG team has spent the year reading government reviews, white papers, select committee reports, consultations, manifestos plans for change… you get the idea. But this podcast is going to step away from the treadmill…
Power to the people [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:32
The devolution revolution is in full swing, with Angela Rayner setting out the government’s plans to give power away across England. Former Conservative special adviser Salma Shah joins the podcast team to explore what t…
Appetite for Disruption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:34
Pat McFadden – the minister for the Cabinet Office – is making a plea for an army of disruptors to sign up to the Civil Service and make Whitehall think like a start up. Jess Studdert, director of New Local, joins us to…
The Plans they are A-Changing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:25
Is that sound the heavy thud of a gauntlet been thrown down? The podcast team are joined by Peter Hyman, a former adviser to Keir Starmer – when he was a key player in designing Labour’s missions – and Tony Blair, to mak…