Tim Durrant
timdurrant.bsky.social
Tim Durrant
@timdurrant.bsky.social
Programme Director at the Institute for Government - interested in how government works and how it can work better

🏳️‍🌈
Follow my fantastic colleagues for everything you need to know about the budget tomorrow:
LIVE BLOG | Autumn budget 2025 🚨

As Rachel Reeves prepares to announce tax measures, what formal announcements have we had so far and what can we expect in the next 24 hours?

Follow our live blog for our analysis of the chancellor's plans
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...
LIVE BLOG | Autumn budget 2025: Rachel Reeves prepares to announce tax measures | Institute for Government
IfG experts analyse Reeves' budget and explore what the chancellor's plans for the economy, tax and spending mean.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Looking into the camera challenge (impossible)

Despite that, this was a great conversation with some great colleagues - check it out!
Our Programme Director, Tim Durrant, examines the implications for organisational culture and decision-making, and highlights the lessons the Covid Inquiry offers for the current government.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/covid-...
November 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
After the covid inquiry report on Thursday, I'm really looking forward to this discussion next week - is this the best way for government to learn lessons?
EVENT | Are public inquiries a good way for government to learn lessons?

Join us to discuss the lessons from the second Covid Inquiry report and what it means for how future governments approach crisis management.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
November 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Must-read ahead of the Budget tomorrow - what do ministers really think about the Treasury?
November 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Pleased to have written an op-ed for @civilserviceworld.bsky.social outlining some of the lessons from our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report, Ministers Reflect on the Treasury.
www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
Ministers’ own words are instructive on what has to change in the Treasury
HMT is a big beast in need of some housetraining but ministers outside the department also need to learn how to make the Treasury work for them
www.civilserviceworld.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Thanks to Ed Balls and George Osborne for giving such interesting and different answers to my #Budget question on this week's @polcurrency.bsky.social pod (and for shoutouts to @instituteforgovernment.org.uk open.spotify.com/episode/6MC7... Hope Rachel was listening..
EMQs: Is it time for a Tory/Labour truce?
open.spotify.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Great new job going at IfG - check out all the details below!
Work with us! 🚨 We are looking for a Partnerships Manager to lead the business function within our partnerships team.

⏰ Applications close on Monday 8 December at 11:00.

Find out more about the role and how to apply www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
November 25, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Fairly wide-ranging Urgent Question debate about the ministerial code - Labour MPs saying how well it's all going, Conservatives saying ministers can't be trusted. But an interesting theme of a couple of Conservatives thinking the code should be more closely overseen by parliament, not government...
November 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
WEBINAR | Autumn budget 2025: What is Rachel Reeves’ plan for the economy?

Just hours after Rachel Reeves sets out the budget to parliament, our IfG experts will share their instant and essential analysis of the chancellor’s plans.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/autumn...
November 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
On Wednesday Rachel Reeves will deliver her second budget as chancellor.

So what can we expect? From fiscal and tax strategies to the cost of living and public services, our IfG experts set out six things to look out for www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
Rachel Reeves’s budget 2025: The IfG’s six things to look out for | Institute for Government
What can we expect from the chancellor’s second budget?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Plug for the paper here and for all our ten years’ worth of Ministers Reflect interviews, available on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk website i.e. 150+ other interviews with formers UK and devolved government ministers.
tinyurl.com/38anhkc7
Ministers Reflect on the Treasury | Institute for Government
Drawing on over a decade of interviews with over 150 ministers, this report explores the Treasury’s role and the tensions it creates across Whitehall.
tinyurl.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Rachel Reeves told the FT how helpful she's found Jeremy Hunt's advice on being chancellor - I wonder if this is one of the things they've discussed?

From the great new IfG report from Shaina and Paddy - essential reading ahead of the Budget!

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
November 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II

What does the report tell us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II | Institute for Government
What does the report tell us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
As the covid inquiry gears up for Module 9 on economic policy, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and I have a new @ukri.org-funded @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report out on Epi-econ modelling for pandemics. We set out why govt needs to invest now 1/🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Combined epidemiological and economic modelling | Institute for Government
The pandemic showed the need for government to improve its use of modelling.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II

Our IfG experts unpack what the inquiry's report tells us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
Five things we learned from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry report on Module II | Institute for Government
What does the report tell us about governance and decision making by ministers and the civil service during the pandemic?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Looking forward to this discussion later - do join us at 12.30
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Big theme from the inquiry report section on government decision-making is about how Johnson, his advisers and senior ministers sidelined cabinet, making the decisions themselves.

Pretty sure this is always the case... cabinet hasn't been a decision-making body for a long time (if it ever was...)
November 20, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Excellent write-up from @tevyemarkson.bsky.social at @civilserviceworld.bsky.social on our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event earlier this week on the fast stream and how it can deliver more for the civil service.

Watch the full event here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/civil-...
How can the Fast Stream get better?
Ex-Fast Stream boss and other experts discuss how the programme can be improved and efforts that are already under way
www.civilserviceworld.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
The government has established a new public services cabinet committee. It will be chaired by Darren Jones, with Streeting, Phillipson and Reed also permanent members.

Yesterday we called for govt to urgently establish a cross-govt approach to public services, so this is potentially promising
November 20, 2025 at 9:45 AM
All you need to know about the latest cabinet committees:
Gov just published a new list cabinet committees. In short, looks like (1) big vote of confidence in Darren Jones from the PM, (2) existing missions + immigration are top of the government's agenda, (3) PM wants things to happen faster, and (4) Rayner's priorities perhaps no longer front of mind?🧵
List of Cabinet Committees and their membership
www.gov.uk
November 20, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Fascinating new report from my colleagues on how boys from low-income families are let down
November 20, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
TOMORROW | The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance?

Join us at 12:30 as @timdurrant.bsky.social @akashpaun.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social unpack the inquiry's findings
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/covid-...
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
With a week to go until the budget, here is the IfG's view on what to watch

On public services, we'll be looking to see:
- How the inflation forecast changes real terms spending
- More details on govt's reform agenda
- Further efficiency drives

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
Rachel Reeves’s budget 2025: The IfG’s six things to look out for | Institute for Government
What can we expect from the chancellor’s second budget?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
Great event from colleagues at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk as @stephenkb.bsky.social makes the important point that govt won't talk about. NIC rise/min wage/visa changes are an unexploded bomb for the government's public service reform/workforce plans. Prioritisation! Prioritisation!
TODAY | How successfully have Labour run public services?

Join us live at 10:00 as our IfG experts present the key findings from our 2025 Public Services Performance Tracker, with @stephenkb.bsky.social @markwfranks.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/labour...
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
It's snowing in Westminster on the same day that we've published the final chapters of Public Service Performance Tracker 2025. Truly, this is like Christmas day for the IFG public services team
NEW: Labour inherited public services in crisis. Performance had fallen, investment had been cut + spending plans were undeliverable.

It's made some progress, providing stability and positive long-term plans. But it has been undermined by poor prep in opposition and lack of co-ordination in govt 🧵
November 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM