Alex Thomas
@alexgathomas.bsky.social
Institute for Government: civil service and all things effective government. Ex-Cabinet Office, Defra, Dept of Health
Reposted by Alex Thomas
GOVERNMENT 2026 | Is the government making any progress on rewiring the state?
Join us on Tuesday 13 January to hear @hannahkeenan.bsky.social present key findings from Whitehall Monitor 2026 - with @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason, @alexgathomas.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social
Join us on Tuesday 13 January to hear @hannahkeenan.bsky.social present key findings from Whitehall Monitor 2026 - with @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason, @alexgathomas.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social
January 5, 2026 at 3:27 PM
GOVERNMENT 2026 | Is the government making any progress on rewiring the state?
Join us on Tuesday 13 January to hear @hannahkeenan.bsky.social present key findings from Whitehall Monitor 2026 - with @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason, @alexgathomas.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social
Join us on Tuesday 13 January to hear @hannahkeenan.bsky.social present key findings from Whitehall Monitor 2026 - with @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason, @alexgathomas.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social
My bit in this article from @rowenamason.bsky.social @kiranstacey.bsky.social
Govt should talk to more people to develop & implement good policy. So “stakeholder blob” (paraphrase) isn’t a good way to think about addressing policy trade-offs & creating authority & incentive to make the system work
Govt should talk to more people to develop & implement good policy. So “stakeholder blob” (paraphrase) isn’t a good way to think about addressing policy trade-offs & creating authority & incentive to make the system work
January 3, 2026 at 3:24 PM
My bit in this article from @rowenamason.bsky.social @kiranstacey.bsky.social
Govt should talk to more people to develop & implement good policy. So “stakeholder blob” (paraphrase) isn’t a good way to think about addressing policy trade-offs & creating authority & incentive to make the system work
Govt should talk to more people to develop & implement good policy. So “stakeholder blob” (paraphrase) isn’t a good way to think about addressing policy trade-offs & creating authority & incentive to make the system work
A good listen over the NY was the George Osborne @polcurrency.bsky.social interview with @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
Lots of interesting stuff, esp (though briefly) at the end the power of freedom as an animating force for govt
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Lots of interesting stuff, esp (though briefly) at the end the power of freedom as an animating force for govt
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Bridget Phillipson on the two-child cap, Reform, and the deputy leadership
Podcast Episode · Political Currency · 31/12/2025 · 53m
podcasts.apple.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:21 AM
A good listen over the NY was the George Osborne @polcurrency.bsky.social interview with @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social
Lots of interesting stuff, esp (though briefly) at the end the power of freedom as an animating force for govt
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Lots of interesting stuff, esp (though briefly) at the end the power of freedom as an animating force for govt
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Reposted by Alex Thomas
Amid some v good initiatives, lots of the longstanding problems with the civil service got worse again in the past year. If the government wants to 'rewire the state' it needs to set out what that means for the workforce. 👇Sneak peek at some of our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report, out in Jan.
UK civil service continues to grow despite pledge to ‘rewire state’ ft.trib.al/qJRDV5g
UK civil service continues to grow despite pledge to ‘rewire state’
Number of full-time equivalent roles grew by more than 4,000 in the year to September
ft.trib.al
December 30, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Amid some v good initiatives, lots of the longstanding problems with the civil service got worse again in the past year. If the government wants to 'rewire the state' it needs to set out what that means for the workforce. 👇Sneak peek at some of our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report, out in Jan.
Reposted by Alex Thomas
Attempting to strip someone of citizenship is always a transparent and hopeless effort to avoid responsibility for the underlying problem you claim to object to. Their citizenship is *why* they can be held accountable for the actions you object to.
December 29, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Attempting to strip someone of citizenship is always a transparent and hopeless effort to avoid responsibility for the underlying problem you claim to object to. Their citizenship is *why* they can be held accountable for the actions you object to.
Reposted by Alex Thomas
On Tuesday 13 January we are going to be hosting Government 2026, our annual conference, which brings together influential speakers and experts to explore the key questions for government in 2026.
So what do we have lined up? 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
So what do we have lined up? 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
December 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
On Tuesday 13 January we are going to be hosting Government 2026, our annual conference, which brings together influential speakers and experts to explore the key questions for government in 2026.
So what do we have lined up? 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
So what do we have lined up? 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Entertaining Ashes lessons/parallels from Jill just before she heads south to watch a couple of dead rubbers
Perhaps to misquote a bodyline classic, ‘I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to run the government’
Perhaps to misquote a bodyline classic, ‘I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to run the government’
Lots of parallels between #Ashes defeat and what Labour voters in 2024 are feeling about the govt right now.. "its the hope that kills you". "It was supposed to be different this time". you wait 15 years for a win in Australia/regain power and then it all falls to pieces super quickly
December 22, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Entertaining Ashes lessons/parallels from Jill just before she heads south to watch a couple of dead rubbers
Perhaps to misquote a bodyline classic, ‘I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to run the government’
Perhaps to misquote a bodyline classic, ‘I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to run the government’
If the second story on the News at 10 is a sinkhole, canal boats and no casualties, we’ve got a happy country and world at peace
Third and fourth stories, Russian general exploded and Gaza, oh no
Third and fourth stories, Russian general exploded and Gaza, oh no
December 22, 2025 at 10:08 PM
If the second story on the News at 10 is a sinkhole, canal boats and no casualties, we’ve got a happy country and world at peace
Third and fourth stories, Russian general exploded and Gaza, oh no
Third and fourth stories, Russian general exploded and Gaza, oh no
Reposted by Alex Thomas
Rewiring the state: Is the government making any progress?
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
December 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Rewiring the state: Is the government making any progress?
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 Jan to hear @andyburnham.bsky.social, Michael Gove, Rowena Mason @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss the govt's attempts to reform the civil service
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Reposted by Alex Thomas
PODCAST 🎙️ 2025 in review: Starmer's year of drama
The IfG team and the FT's @chris-smyth.bsky.social pick out the big moments of the last 12 months – the big political developments, and the key appointments that could shape the year ahead www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
The IfG team and the FT's @chris-smyth.bsky.social pick out the big moments of the last 12 months – the big political developments, and the key appointments that could shape the year ahead www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
2025 in review: Starmer's year of drama | Institute for Government
The IfG team and the Financial Times’s public policy editor Chris Smyth look back on an eventful 12 months and pick out the big moments of 2025.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
PODCAST 🎙️ 2025 in review: Starmer's year of drama
The IfG team and the FT's @chris-smyth.bsky.social pick out the big moments of the last 12 months – the big political developments, and the key appointments that could shape the year ahead www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
The IfG team and the FT's @chris-smyth.bsky.social pick out the big moments of the last 12 months – the big political developments, and the key appointments that could shape the year ahead www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
Reposted by Alex Thomas
Have you ever read the Public Services Performance Tracker published by @instituteforgovernment.org.uk? If so, we’d love to hear from you. We’re surveying readers to find out what is most useful and what we should prioritise next year. It will only take around 5 mins to complete
Performance Tracker Survey 2025/2026
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Have you ever read the Public Services Performance Tracker published by @instituteforgovernment.org.uk? If so, we’d love to hear from you. We’re surveying readers to find out what is most useful and what we should prioritise next year. It will only take around 5 mins to complete
Reposted by Alex Thomas
Cabinet Office in May: We're making the centre smaller. We've approved 540 people to leave through voluntary exits. It will cost £27m. We expect 1200 people to leave over the next two years.
Cabinet Office today: we added an extra 695 staff Q3 2025...
👇Follow Dan for the latest civil service stats
Cabinet Office today: we added an extra 695 staff Q3 2025...
👇Follow Dan for the latest civil service stats
1/ The latest ONS data on public sector employment shows that the civil service has grown (again).
After 2 consecutive quarters of plateauing growth, the CS grew in Q3 by 3490 (0.6%) to 520440 FTE. This is the highest quarterly increase since Labour came to power.
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk
After 2 consecutive quarters of plateauing growth, the CS grew in Q3 by 3490 (0.6%) to 520440 FTE. This is the highest quarterly increase since Labour came to power.
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 16, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Cabinet Office in May: We're making the centre smaller. We've approved 540 people to leave through voluntary exits. It will cost £27m. We expect 1200 people to leave over the next two years.
Cabinet Office today: we added an extra 695 staff Q3 2025...
👇Follow Dan for the latest civil service stats
Cabinet Office today: we added an extra 695 staff Q3 2025...
👇Follow Dan for the latest civil service stats
Civil service numbers continue to rise. Voluntary and mutually agreed exits not leading to a reduction yet
Particularly surprising - Cabinet Office grew by 695. More than half the number of people slated to leave through voluntary exit schemes *added* in just 3 months
See Dan’s great charts here
Particularly surprising - Cabinet Office grew by 695. More than half the number of people slated to leave through voluntary exit schemes *added* in just 3 months
See Dan’s great charts here
1/ The latest ONS data on public sector employment shows that the civil service has grown (again).
After 2 consecutive quarters of plateauing growth, the CS grew in Q3 by 3490 (0.6%) to 520440 FTE. This is the highest quarterly increase since Labour came to power.
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk
After 2 consecutive quarters of plateauing growth, the CS grew in Q3 by 3490 (0.6%) to 520440 FTE. This is the highest quarterly increase since Labour came to power.
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 16, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Civil service numbers continue to rise. Voluntary and mutually agreed exits not leading to a reduction yet
Particularly surprising - Cabinet Office grew by 695. More than half the number of people slated to leave through voluntary exit schemes *added* in just 3 months
See Dan’s great charts here
Particularly surprising - Cabinet Office grew by 695. More than half the number of people slated to leave through voluntary exit schemes *added* in just 3 months
See Dan’s great charts here
Reposted by Alex Thomas
as Trump throws a $ 10bn lawsuit at the BBC, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk picked a good day to discuss the President's impact on communications - with Katy Balls from @thetimes.com @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social - sign up www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/trump-...
The Trump challenge: Chaos, confusion and government communications | Institute for Government
Alastair Campbell, Katy Balls and Simon Baugh join us to discuss the impact of Trump’s unpredictable approach to facts, accuracy and communication
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 16, 2025 at 7:44 AM
as Trump throws a $ 10bn lawsuit at the BBC, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk picked a good day to discuss the President's impact on communications - with Katy Balls from @thetimes.com @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social - sign up www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/trump-...
Our devolution experts had their Weetabix today
@akashpaun.bsky.social @matthewfright.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
@akashpaun.bsky.social @matthewfright.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
The government’s decision to delay mayoral elections cannot be justified on democratic or fairness grounds | Institute for Government
The government has postponed the May 2026 mayoral elections in Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent, and Norfolk and Suffolk.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Our devolution experts had their Weetabix today
@akashpaun.bsky.social @matthewfright.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
@akashpaun.bsky.social @matthewfright.bsky.social @shawharriet.bsky.social @meganisaac.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...
Reposted by Alex Thomas
PODCAST 🎙️Should the UK do budgets differently?
As Reeves is accused of misleading the public, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss how well the UK does budgets.
PLUS Lammy's judge-only trials plans
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
As Reeves is accused of misleading the public, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss how well the UK does budgets.
PLUS Lammy's judge-only trials plans
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
Should the UK do budgets differently? | Institute for Government
As Rachel Reeves is accused of misleading the public, the IfG's experts discuss how well the UK does budgets, and Lammy's plans for judge-only trials.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
PODCAST 🎙️Should the UK do budgets differently?
As Reeves is accused of misleading the public, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss how well the UK does budgets.
PLUS Lammy's judge-only trials plans
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
As Reeves is accused of misleading the public, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social discuss how well the UK does budgets.
PLUS Lammy's judge-only trials plans
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
Reposted by Alex Thomas
But the cost is not the only question govt needs to answer to make this scheme work. Following our panel with @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @matthewfeeney.bsky.social @morganwild.bsky.social & Sir David Normington, I highlight some qs for govt: (4/4)
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
The government still has questions to answer on digital IDs | Institute for Government
What does the government need to do to move its digital ID plans forward?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
But the cost is not the only question govt needs to answer to make this scheme work. Following our panel with @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social @matthewfeeney.bsky.social @morganwild.bsky.social & Sir David Normington, I highlight some qs for govt: (4/4)
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comm...
Reposted by Alex Thomas
The govt appears committed to driving forward digital IDs - the responsibility for the scheme now sits in the Cabinet Office, led by Darren Jones, and was described by Liz Kendall in the science, innovation and technology committee today as one of the PM's "top priorities" (1/4)
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The govt appears committed to driving forward digital IDs - the responsibility for the scheme now sits in the Cabinet Office, led by Darren Jones, and was described by Liz Kendall in the science, innovation and technology committee today as one of the PM's "top priorities" (1/4)
Reposted by Alex Thomas
This isn't unique to the covid inquiry but it does highlight some key issues - this lunchtime I'll be joined by an excellent panel to discuss the covid inquiry & whether inquiries are a good way for the government to learn lessons www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
December 2, 2025 at 10:38 AM
This isn't unique to the covid inquiry but it does highlight some key issues - this lunchtime I'll be joined by an excellent panel to discuss the covid inquiry & whether inquiries are a good way for the government to learn lessons www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
Reposted by Alex Thomas
New from @alexgathomas.bsky.social and I on the missed opportunity of the covid inquiry's module 2 report to dig deeper into how decisions were made in government during the pandemic
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
The Covid Inquiry has missed vital lessons on how to make better decisions | Institute for Government
We have not learnt much that is new from the inquiry’s Module Two report.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 10:38 AM
New from @alexgathomas.bsky.social and I on the missed opportunity of the covid inquiry's module 2 report to dig deeper into how decisions were made in government during the pandemic
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
Here’s a new piece from @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and me on how the Covid Inquiry’s second module missed the opportunity to really dig into how decisions were made in the heart of government
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
The Covid Inquiry has missed vital lessons on how to make better decisions | Institute for Government
We have not learnt much that is new from the inquiry’s Module Two report.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Here’s a new piece from @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and me on how the Covid Inquiry’s second module missed the opportunity to really dig into how decisions were made in the heart of government
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/covi...
[personal news, cough]
Very excited to be taking up this new role @instituteforgovernment.org.uk alongside brilliant colleagues
I love working for the IfG and have enjoyed every minutes of my nearly six years (can’t believe it) here
Can’t wait to get stuck into the new job in Jan
Very excited to be taking up this new role @instituteforgovernment.org.uk alongside brilliant colleagues
I love working for the IfG and have enjoyed every minutes of my nearly six years (can’t believe it) here
Can’t wait to get stuck into the new job in Jan
I'm really delighted to announce that- in a restructure of the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s senior team - I've appointed @gemmatetlow.bsky.social to the new role of Executive Director of Research & Innovation & @alexgathomas.bsky.social to the new role of Executive Director of Impact & Influence
December 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM
[personal news, cough]
Very excited to be taking up this new role @instituteforgovernment.org.uk alongside brilliant colleagues
I love working for the IfG and have enjoyed every minutes of my nearly six years (can’t believe it) here
Can’t wait to get stuck into the new job in Jan
Very excited to be taking up this new role @instituteforgovernment.org.uk alongside brilliant colleagues
I love working for the IfG and have enjoyed every minutes of my nearly six years (can’t believe it) here
Can’t wait to get stuck into the new job in Jan
Reposted by Alex Thomas
While I was offline I reviewed Baroness Hale of Richmond's newest book. It's actually very good! I'm going soft. Free link here @ www.thetimes.com/article/6dd6...
Return of the Spider Woman: Lady Hale tours Britain’s courts
With the Law on Our Side is a pleasingly old-fashioned look at our legal system by the former president of the Supreme Court
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
While I was offline I reviewed Baroness Hale of Richmond's newest book. It's actually very good! I'm going soft. Free link here @ www.thetimes.com/article/6dd6...
Big parliamentary winner today imho: Nus Ghani
Channelling Betty Boothroyd, authority with humour. Much needed in the HoC
Channelling Betty Boothroyd, authority with humour. Much needed in the HoC
November 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Big parliamentary winner today imho: Nus Ghani
Channelling Betty Boothroyd, authority with humour. Much needed in the HoC
Channelling Betty Boothroyd, authority with humour. Much needed in the HoC