Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event

The announcement of a second England lockdown came following repeated warnings from the UK government’s scientific advisers about the spread of coronavirus. Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, scientific advice to the government has been highly visible, with Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, repeatedly sharing a platform with Boris Johnson. Members of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) continue to feature prominently across broadcast outlets and in coverage of the government’s handling of the crisis.

Other forms of advice, including economic advice from the Treasury, have been far less transparent, often creating the impression that SAGE is the government’s main and most influential advisory body. And yet economic arguments have also featured prominently in the debate about whether and when to lockdown again.

How should science advice be combined with other kinds of evidence and presented to ministers? Does there need to be more transparency about the type of advice government is receiving and how it is using it? Does the prominence of SAGE undermine public understanding of other forms of evidence?

To discuss these questions, the IfG was delighted to welcome:

• Professor John Edmunds, Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and participant in SAGE
• Professor Susan Michie, Professor of Health Psychology at UCL and participant in SAGE and Independent SAGE
• Lord Macpherson of Earl’s Court, former Treasury Permanent Secretary (2005–16)
• Nancy Hey, Executive Director of What Works Wellbeing

This event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.

#IfGScience

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Is the future made for virtual democracy? In this bonus interview, Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg talks to Bronwen Maddox about organising a new dispersed Commons, the pros and cons of remote voting, and why a living Parliament requires more than simply occupying benches. Do MPs gain in independent-mindedness what the Whips maybe lose in influence? And can we look forward to virtual party conferences too...?

“Before the Easter Recess there was serious debate about whether ANYTHING would be technically possible...”

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Audio production by Alex Rees.

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“You need to persuade the Civil Service. Attacking them is not the way to do it.” As Tony Blair’s Chief of Staff during the New Labour years, Jonathan Powell trod the path of radical reform that Dominic Cummings now walks. In this extended version of his interview in this week’s INSIDE BRIEFING, he tells Sam Macrory of the hidden pitfalls of rapid government reform, the perils of absentee opposition, and the real possibility of the UK breaking up over Brexit.

“I think Boris Johnson will survive this year, politically,” he says. “But I don’t think Dominic Cummings will.”

Interview by Sam Macrory. Audio production by Alex Rees.

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What’s the reality of No.10’s control over government? Is our supposedly superpowered centre really strong enough to command all the organs of state? Do we have too many generalists and too few specialists, and do we even need Special Advisors? Nick Timothy, Theresa May’s former Chief of Staff, joins us to look at the dismal science of “deliverology”. Plus, what will Joe Biden’s arrival mean for Britain? And what was it like dealing with Donald Trump from within No.10?

• “I mainly spend my time thinking ‘Thank God I’m not advising a Prime Minister right now’...” – Nick Timothy
• “For a highly centralised state, we have a surprisingly weak centre of government.” – Alex Thomas
• “Downing Street was a bit like a sleeping drunk at a party. You’d be going about your life but periodically Downing Street would wake up and start shouting. Then you’ve have to put all your energies into getting them back to sleep.” – Nick Timothy
• “It’s a real problem that Cabinet doesn’t sit down and set out collective objectives... If you’ve got 570 priorities then you don’t have any.” – Jill Rutter
• “Special Advisors can be all-powerful or nothing at all. They can practically run a department or be a bag-carrier – or try to run a department with the abilities of a bag-carrier. I’d scrap them altogether.” – Nick Timothy
• “Donald Trump was a terrible President to deal with but even he didn’t manage to ruin the UK-US relationship.” – Nick Timothy

Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Alex Thomas and Jill Rutter. Audio production by Alex Rees

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This is an audio recording of an IfG Live Event

The Institute for Government hosted the annual lecture by Bronwen Maddox, its director.

In her speech, Bronwen looked at the government’s performance in the extraordinary circumstances of 2020 and what 2021 might bring.

Her discussion was followed by a response from Professor David Runciman and the event was chaired by Sir Richard Lambert.

#IfGDirector

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