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Nick Davies

@njdavies.bsky.social

8.7K followers 800 following 570 posts

Programme Director at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk working on public services

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Reposted by Nick Davies

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 4h

Productivity Pitches #8: Spreading innovation across public services

By highlighting outstanding examples of innovation across public services, the event aims to share and support ways to improve performance levels.
@njdavies.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/produc...

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 19h

His films are meant to be rom-coms but every single one is a horror

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 19h

This is part of the wider phenomenon of ‘Richard Curtis’s idea of romance is incredibly disturbing’

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 1d

There are also countless other people both within IfG (particularly @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social @marialaura-lacorte.bsky.social and Will) and beyond who have given many hours towards the project

Particular thanks to @nuffieldfoundation.org, whose support has made it all possible

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 1d

All of the hard work has been done by @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social @cassiarowland.bsky.social @amberdellar.bsky.social @philipnye.bsky.social and you should follow them all for expert insight into the services they cover

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 1d

4. As a result of these changes, the report is going to be even more substantial than in previous years. We’re therefore splitting up publication across the next five weeks, starting with local govt (cross-council analysis, adult social care, children’s social care, homelessness) on Tuesday

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 1d

3. We’ve added analysis of local variation (rather than just assessing the aggregate national picture) into each of the chapters. This provides a better insight into the drivers of performance and how public services are actually experienced in different parts of the country

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 1d

2. We’ve added three chapters on the cross-cutting issues facing local govt, the NHS and criminal justice respectively. This is in addition to the overarching cross-service analysis that draws together the main themes from all nine services we assess

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 1d

1. We’ve added a full chapter on homelessness. This is the other major acute service (in addition to adult and children’s social care) that is stretching council budgets

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 1d

On Tuesday @instituteforgovernment.org.uk will publish the first part of Performance Tracker 2025, our flagship annual stocktake of the state of public services

We’re doing things slightly differently this year, so I thought I’d do a quick thread explaining some of the changes

🧵

Reposted by Nick Davies

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 2d

EVENT | Productivity Pitches #8: Spreading innovation across public services

📅 Tuesday 21 October, 12:30-13:45

Join us for the eighth edition of #ProductivityPitches with Foundations, the What Works Centre and @local.gov.uk.

Register to attend www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/produc...

Productivity Pitches #8: Spreading innovation across public services

Tuesday 21 October 2025, 12:30 — 13:45 (GMT)

Reposted by Nick Davies

Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · 3d

After attending a marathon five ((FIVE! 😳) party conferences I’ve written about what they told me about how our politicians are thinking about government (tl:dr governing is hard; they want to take back control; and Reform UK was ubiquitous…) www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/five...

Five party conferences reveal different visions for how government should work | Institute for Government

Labour, the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, Reform UK and the Greens all have plans to change how government works.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 5d

lol, sadly not. Clearly I should use more props

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 5d

Hahaha. I’m going to choose to take that as a compliment

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 5d

That said, we had full rooms for all the IfG events. While there were far fewer corporates/charities, there were still lots of members about. I’d say 90% of questions in Conservative fringe events came from members (vs less than 50% at Labour and Lib Dems)

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 5d

Conservative conference was quiet this year. How quiet? Well, 5 months ago I gave a speech on procurement at the same venue that was better attended than Robert Jenrick’s keynote

Reposted by Nick Davies

Stuart Hoddinott @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · 5d

I'm increasingly convinced this is a huge driver of dissatisfaction with govt

Council tax is one of the most visible taxes that people pay, it goes directly out of their bank account and they get a letter about it going up every year

Yet bin collection frequency falls and libraries close

Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 6d

It is also deeply unhealthy to have local govts who don’t provide many visible/valuable services for most residents (because they lack the resources). Encourages distrust and populism - “what am I paying my council tax for? The council does nothing for me.”

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 6d

Amazed this is still going ahead - basic and obvious problem is that essentially everything local government does now is for the poor. You can’t move it around without really hurting poor people somewhere!

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 6d

If you’re in Manchester today then join us for a discussion on what a Conservative vision for public services should look like

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 7d

Then at 13:00, we will consider how the Conservative Party should rethink its vision for public services.

Our expert panel includes Baroness Barran, Dr Kieran Mullan MP, Cllr Abi Brown and @njdavies.bsky.social - join us in Exchange 6-7.

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 7d

We did but by that point they had been running Kent for 4 months and were well aware of the reality of local government finances

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 7d

Tell me you haven’t read Performance Tracker* without telling me you haven’t read Performance Tracker

*or literally any serious writing on local government finances

Reposted by Nick Davies

Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · 7d

On the civil service bit of this…£8bn savings *a year* by the end of the Parliament claimed

Reducing headcount to 2016 levels is easier said than done, as previous govts know

on.ft.com/46Da3nm

Tories tout £47bn in spending cuts in bid to reclaim fiscal reputation

Shadow chancellor says he will target welfare spending, overseas aid budget and civil service staffing to find savings

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 10d

If (shock horror) you managed to miss @instituteforgovernment.org.uk at Labour conference then have no fear. Audio from all our events is now online. This includes 3 events I chaired: implementing govt's health reforms, delivering preventative healthcare, and rebuilding the criminal justice system

IfG at the Labour Party Conference 2025 | Institute for Government

The IfG was in Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference 2025.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Nick Davies

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 13d

Don't miss our final #Lab25 event on rebuilding the criminal justice system - we will be joined by Deputy Mayor Kate Green, Clare Moody, @cassiarowland.bsky.social @fionarutherford.bsky.social @justicehq.bsky.social @njdavies.bsky.social

Find us in Clyde Room, Arena Floor at 17:15 zurl.co/O52cg

How can the government rebuild the criminal justice system? Tuesday 30 September | 17:15–18:15

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 15d

The Lionesses and Red Roses have really spoilt my children. Supporting England is meant to be an endless series of disappointments! They don’t know they’ve been born

Reposted by Nick Davies

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 16d

The role of procurement in delivering mission-led government

New report by @njdavies.bsky.social and @drbenpaxton.bsky.social on how public procurement could support delivery of mission-led government, and the key barriers to this.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The role of procurement in delivering mission-led government | Institute for Government

How can the government remove the barriers to its missions?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk