Matthew Fright
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matthewfright.bsky.social
Matthew Fright
@matthewfright.bsky.social
750 followers 180 following 220 posts
Senior Researcher @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Public Services & Devolution, formerly @nao.org.uk analyst. PhD on history of national income accounts. Views are my own.
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Reposted by Matthew Fright
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
🚨EVENT POSTPONED | In Conversation with Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister of Wales

We’re pleased to confirm that this event has been rescheduled and now has a new date:

📆 Thursday 22 January

We’re looking forward to welcoming you then.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/conver...
November 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
IfG DevoLab #3: How devolution can improve transport connectivity

📍This time our DevoLab will take place in Leeds, and will explore how mayors and local leaders can use devolved powers to improve regional transport connectivity.

🎟️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
October 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Our first instalment of our Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 looks at the state of local government finances and overall performance in adult social care, children's social care and homelessness.

Read the report to find out more 📖👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
October 16, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
stuarthoddinott.bsky.social
NEW REPORT: Local authorities have been struggling with pressures from austeirty for years, but there are signs that pressure is now particularly acute

As a result, they are having to make tough decisions about finances and services

🧵👇 on findings

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Performance Tracker 2025: Local government overview | Institute for Government
The government is making good progress towards rebalancing local government funding. But the sector shows signs of mounting financial distress.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
njdavies.bsky.social
NEW: @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have published pt1 of Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 covering local government finances and overall performance, adult social care, children's social care and homelessness

Incredible work by @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @amberdellar.bsky.social
Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 | Institute for Government
Labour’s public service plans are less than the sum of their parts.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
The IfG DevoLab is going on the road - join us in Birmingham on Monday 20 Oct to hear how mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies.

With @greatermcr.bsky.social @jpgibson.bsky.social, North East Combined Authority www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
An image for the IfG event: IfG DevoLab #2: How can mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies? Monday 20 October 2025, 13:30 — 15:00 (BST)
October 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
matthewfright.bsky.social
One for the diaries - an upcoming IfG DevoLab event in Birmingham with a stellar panel exploring how mayors and strategic authorities have driven investment and regeneration across England's regions.

Full (in person and online) sign up details below.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Oct 9
IfG DevoLab #2: How can mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies?

Join us in Birmingham to explore how mayors can secure and deliver private investment into their regions in pursuit of growth and regeneration.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
October 10, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
We're kicking off our final panel discussion of the day at #CPC25 with @livuniheseltine.bsky.social.

Find out about tomorrow's fringe events - or keep an eye on our website for an audio recording www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/ifg-co...
A panel at an IfG event
October 6, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
sammacrory.bsky.social
Live on BBC news now.

@tompope.bsky.social of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk giving his instant reaction to shadow chancellor Mel Stride’s speech at Conservative Party Conference
October 6, 2025 at 9:28 AM
matthewfright.bsky.social
Starting now - a great @instituteforgovernment.org.uk panel at Labour Party Conference: How should the government implement and enhance devolution across the North of England? (Arena Room - Clyde, ACC)
A photo taken of an IfG panel event at the Labour Party Conference
September 30, 2025 at 11:08 AM
matthewfright.bsky.social
Today is the deadline for two-tier councils on the devolution priority programme to submit their final LGR proposals to ministers. Earlier this week, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk in partnership with Norse Group, held a discussion about the challenges and options facing local leaders
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Sep 25
📸Local government reorganisation and public service delivery: What are the options and challenges?

Last evening's event was a success! Thank you: @jydenham.bsky.social
Liz Elliott
Justin Galliford
Rachel Joyce
@matthewfright.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/local-...
September 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
matthewfright.bsky.social
This evening, 1730-1830, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk and Norse Group have lined up a great panel to discuss the findings of a new report on local government reorganisation and public service delivery. Signup details at:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/local-...
September 24, 2025 at 12:49 PM
matthewfright.bsky.social
In the week devolution priority areas submit their local government reorganisation (LGR) plans to ministers today the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk published a new report looking at the challenges and options facing local leaders as they reorganise councils and district services 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
matthewfright.bsky.social
Although it was unfortunate to postpone yesterday’s event, I’m delighted to be chairing our rescheduled panel discussion on local government reorganisation and public service delivery on 24 September.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Sep 8
📆 🚨 EVENT POSTPONED🚨 📆

Today's event has been postponed due to ongoing strike action

‼️ New Date: 24 September ‼️
September 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
timdurrant.bsky.social
Fascinating analysis from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog of the new ministers: 14 of the 19 new MPs in their first ministerial role were previously parliamentary private secretaries

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...
A table from the IfG showing the parliamentary private secretary roles that newly-appointed ministers held before being appointed - the original table is available at https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/starmer-reshuffle-september-2025
September 9, 2025 at 9:53 AM
matthewfright.bsky.social
For the latest updates and insights on the new-look Starmer cabinet, head over to the Institute for Government liveblog
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Sep 5
LIVEBLOG!

We've fired up the IfG reshuffle liveblog.

Essential for all the latest information as Keir Starmer reshapes his team.

Packed with data, charts, details and analysis about all the ministerial moves.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...
Starmer government reshuffle: PM changes top team after Rayner's exit | Institute for Government
The IfG team analyse the moves as Keir Starmer reshapes his Cabinet.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
September 5, 2025 at 4:37 PM
matthewfright.bsky.social
Insightful thread outlining how Parliament can and has been engaged previously for secret spend situations. Interested to learn whether similar approaches were used for the Afghanistan Response Route.
 Henry Midgley @henrymidgley.bsky.social · Jul 16
Really interesting story but it doesn't cover an important angle. Was the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee
told about this expenditure? That might sound odd but in the past often it has been the Chair of the PAC who would have been told about secret spending like this.
lucyfisher.ft.com Lucy Fisher @lucyfisher.ft.com · Jul 15
How one of the gravest security lapses in history was kept secret

The story of the super-injunction: the global gagging order sought by successive UK govts to silence media over leak that put thousands at risk of Taliban reprisals

By Alistair Gray & me 👇 #AfghanFiles

www.ft.com/content/dbba...
July 16, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
stephenkb.bsky.social
Jesus wept, so many of the details in this are eye-popping:
How one of the gravest security lapses in history was kept secret
Successive UK governments gagged the media over a leak that put thousands at risk of Taliban reprisals
www.ft.com
July 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM
matthewfright.bsky.social
Looking forward to learning more about the action mayors are taking to tackling health inequalities across England as part of our new IfG Devolab series. To hear more stream live here www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
July 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
matthewfright.bsky.social
@instituteforgovernment.org.uk has launched a new initiative exploring the innovations enabled by devolution, learning from results, and sharing lessons so that places can take better decisions about how to use devolved powers and budgets.

Sign up details for today's event are linked below:
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Jul 9
IfG DevoLab #1: How devolution can address health inequalities

📅 Monday 14 July, 17:30

Join us for our first DevoLab where speakers from three regions set out how the powers of mayors are being used to address health inequalities in their regions www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
An image for an IfG event. IfG DevoLab #1: How devolution can address health inequalities Monday 14 July 2025, 17:30 — 18:45 (BST) The three case studies being presented at IfG DevoLab #1 are: ‘Beds for Babies: Safe Space to Sleep’, by Andy Gates, Director of Development, Collaboration and Culture at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority ‘Taking a health in all policies approach’, by Vicky Hobart, Director of Public Health at the Greater London Authority Group. ‘Working Well’, by Thomas Britton, Principal – Contracted Employment Provision at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
July 14, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
drhannahwhite.bsky.social
We at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have coordinated a letter in @thetimes.com today in which numerous individuals and organisations call on the government to withdraw its mistaken rules which are having a serious chilling effect on civil servants speaking in public…
July 14, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
drhannahwhite.bsky.social
My latest thoughts on why the characteristics of the 2024 parliament mean the backbench welfare bill rebellion is unlikely to be the last one faced by Keir Starmer www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/parl...
Parliament has changed – Keir Starmer’s welfare reform challenge won’t be a one-off | Institute for Government
The prime minister needs a new way of working with backbench Labour MPs.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
June 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
hcdunlop.bsky.social
@alexgathomas.bsky.social and I take a look into Georgia Gould's announcements last week and ask the question: what does this mean for the government's missions?
alexgathomas.bsky.social Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · Jun 24
Some sign of life in the govt’s missions based on Georgia Gould’s announcements last week

But @hcdunlop.bsky.social and I argue here that the mission agenda will be swamped unless the centre of government signs up (esp true post spending review)

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cabi...
New Cabinet Office plans show some sign of life in the government’s missions | Institute for Government
Will themed campuses solve local problems or set national policy?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
June 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
cathhaddon.bsky.social
John Major making an impassioned call @instituteforgovernment.org.uk for our systems of standards to stop being convention-based.

Running through the different bodies, he’s conflicted on whether they should be put on Statutory basis. But says ACOBA now must be.
June 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Matthew Fright
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Rachel Reeves has announced a 'growth mission fund' and a tranche of grants for parks, swimming pools, libraries and help for councils with graffiti and fly tipping. Sounds a lot like the 'levelling up' funding - we'll take a look at the details when we get them.
June 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM