Cath Haddon

The comments are reminding me that i am still annoyed about the pub quiz a few years back where i sucumbed to the peer pressure to let them pick Churchill when i knew it was Callaghan who had a tattoo from his navy days.

We’re recruiting a researcher for the newly expanded @instituteforgovernment.org.uk public services team (and for a researcher in the UK govt team). If you’re interested in public services policy and want to work for (imho) the best team at IfG the please apply! Application close 1 Nov

Parliament is back and so is the 'why parliament is weird' substack series from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk If you've ever wondered why there aren't enough seats in the Commons and how MPs reserve a seat when it's standing room only, then I wrote this for you.

📣 Arts & humanities researchers: applications are open for the AHRC Engaging with Government Course 2027. Learn how policymaking works, engage effectively with government, and boost your policy impact. Apply by 29 Oct 2026. 🔗 ukri.org/events/engaging-with-government-course-2027/

NEW: Plans to reduce EHCPs look optimistic and Burnham's public service reforms still need a plan for schools In our first IfG Performance Tracker chapter, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, we look at how the government is performing on its schools agenda [1/9]

It was great to welcome the "Parliament Matters" podcast to "the political studies powerhouse that is Queen Mary University of London". Featuring the brilliant @ruthfox.bsky.social @darcyxtip.bsky.social @cathhaddon.bsky.social & @danielgover.bsky.social, plus me going tonto on billionaire donors.

Really helpful piece by @sirjjkc.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the tricky question of how and when retrospective legislation is appropriate and what it it might mean for the legislation currently in Lords on political donations. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/retr...

Really helpful piece by @sirjjkc.bsky.social for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the tricky question of how and when retrospective legislation is appropriate and what it it might mean for the legislation currently in Lords on political donations. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/retr...

Following Angela Rayner's decision to fully review her predecessor’s LGR decisions, today at 12.30, the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, in partnership with @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social, has brought together a great panel to discuss how this came about and what happens next. Sign up details below.

#impact Boom (Thank you Cabinet Office) www.gov.uk/government/p...

Must-read for @louisehaighmp.bsky.social by the excellent @hannahkeenan.bsky.social - Don't just call it a taskforce and parachute new people into centre duplicating others - Do have a small agile core - Do keep asking if the taskforce is working www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/task...

How can special advisers in the Burnham government get things done? @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social and @meganbryer.bsky.social set out five tips for how spads can get the most out of their time in government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/spec...

Highly recommend this excellent @instituteforgovernment.org.uk @cathhaddon.bsky.social series

🚨Episode Three of Mid-Term Prime Ministers We dig into early election pressure all mid-term PMs go through, and the Brown, May and Johnson versions of that Talk about how long the honeymoon period lasts And explore how mid-term PMs to adjust to the role podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

🚨 New podcast Second in our mid-term PMs series The transition - why reshuffles much more precarious for mid-term PMs - whether they think enough about organising No10 - the all impt q of how to balance continuity v change from their predecessor www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Great holiday listening if you're away over the summer, or everyday listening if you're not. Loved hearing @cathhaddon.bsky.social 's expert views with a fascinating range of guests from both quite far in the past and very recent transitions.

NEW PODCAST SERIES 🎙️ Mid-term prime ministers: transitions of power between elections In episode 1 we explore the recent history of mid-term changes of PM from Major to Sunak. Feat. Gus O'Donnell, Mark Sedwill, Helen MacNamara, Simon Case and more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Andy Burnham must avoid repeating Keir Starmer’s failed ‘civil service reset’ For a PM who prides himself on plain speaking, he could do worse than start with an honest conversation about the relationship with the civil service www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy...

New from @drbenpaxton.bsky.social 5 ways all departments can use procurement to deliver on the government’s priority of supporting “growth and innovation in every postcode”. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy...

Andy Burnham's government has announced changes to the prison early release scheme. But who is being released and when? Our graphic takes a closer look. Read @cassiarowland.bsky.social's latest comment on the prison capacity challenge www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/publ...

The UK is forgetting the dull bit of climate change policy @jillongovt.bsky.social tells us why the Treasury needs to take the lead on how we adapt to the heat www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/uk-f...

Work with us! 🚨 We are looking for an Events Officer to help support the design and co-ordination of our programme of public and private events. ⏰ Applications close on Friday 7 August at 11:00. Find out more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Here’s our piece wrapping up Andy Burnham’s government formation - six things we learned about BurnhamWorld by @rebeccamckee.bsky.social @philipnye.bsky.social @meganbryer.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/six-...

Andy Burnham is setting out his approach to social care Our performance tracker from 2025 shows the damaging geographical and demographic ‘care gap’ in England. To take action government needs to understand how and where this care gap is forming www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

This will be a great webinar with @jillongovt.bsky.social @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social and @tompope.bsky.social - do join us on Thursday and send in the questions you’d like the team to answer…

Great to see! Appointing lots of PPSs can be seen-often rightly-as just boosting the payroll vote. But used well they're a source of strategic strength for ministers As @aliceolilly.bsky.social and I said last week proper reform is needed to make commitments to fix parly relationships a reality

One question that’s come up a couple of times: where do Andy Burnham’s new cabinet represent as MPs? The north west has been the big gainer, with seven cabinet ministers holding seats there – of whom, five are in Greater Manchester

Andy Burnham is holding his first cabinet meeting as prime minister and there are a few new faces around the table. Key appointments were confirmed late yesterday, so we've updated our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk chart to show where we currently stand with ministerial appointments 👇

Burnham’s cabinet is the first to achieve gender parity. And the Office for Equality and Opportunity will move to the MHCLG with Bridget Phillipson remaining in post as Minister for Women and Equalities. Here’s our IfG breakdown of what yesterday’s announcements mean for women in government … 🧵

We are hiring! Brilliant senior job running our new UK Government team… …looking for someone creative and strategic with experience of government who would seize this fantastic opportunity to make government work well for the people of the UK! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...