Nick Davies
@njdavies.bsky.social
Programme Director at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk working on public services
Pinned
Nick Davies
@njdavies.bsky.social
· Oct 15
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
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
Incredible work by @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @amberdellar.bsky.social
Starmer is giving strong Emery vibes. Takes over from a tired administration that had started boldly but become a punch line. History of success in previous job but loses the dressing room and becomes historically unpopular due to bizarre decisions. UK needs an Arteta with clear vision + priorities
November 14, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Starmer is giving strong Emery vibes. Takes over from a tired administration that had started boldly but become a punch line. History of success in previous job but loses the dressing room and becomes historically unpopular due to bizarre decisions. UK needs an Arteta with clear vision + priorities
Reposted by Nick Davies
Massive move in gilts on open. Looks like giving up almost half the gains from the last month. Terrible
I am excited to see the gilt market reaction to this news. Think it could be quite bad. A big chunk of the recent gilt rally was predicated on Labour showing they could hike the big taxes if needed and….well I guess that idea is dead.
November 14, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Massive move in gilts on open. Looks like giving up almost half the gains from the last month. Terrible
Reposted by Nick Davies
Gov to abolish police & crime commissioners. I'm not sold on this yet: yes, where there are mayors, it makes sense for them to hold these powers and turnout in PCC elections is low. But policing boards aren't necessarily a better option and the convening power of PCCs can be v valuable
Police and crime commissioners to be scrapped in England and Wales
The government says it will save £100m over this Parliament and less than 20% of voters can name their PCC.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Gov to abolish police & crime commissioners. I'm not sold on this yet: yes, where there are mayors, it makes sense for them to hold these powers and turnout in PCC elections is low. But policing boards aren't necessarily a better option and the convening power of PCCs can be v valuable
Reposted by Nick Davies
Worth noting here as well that- unlike in the Commons, where the Speaker selects which amendments are debated- in the Lords, any peer can insist on having their amendment debated and voted on (although there aren't *usually* lots of amendments pushed to a vote)
NEW: 942 amendments have been laid down in the House of Lords ahead of the Assisted Dying Bill's committee stage in the chamber, which starts tomorrow.
This is believed to be a record for a bill at committee stage. It's going to be an intense debate.
This is believed to be a record for a bill at committee stage. It's going to be an intense debate.
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Worth noting here as well that- unlike in the Commons, where the Speaker selects which amendments are debated- in the Lords, any peer can insist on having their amendment debated and voted on (although there aren't *usually* lots of amendments pushed to a vote)
Reposted by Nick Davies
'Cornwall council offered suppliers £6m to staff illegal children’s homes'
This might be a new low in terms of normalising children living in unlawful settings, but unfortunately, it really shouldn't come as a surprise
This might be a new low in terms of normalising children living in unlawful settings, but unfortunately, it really shouldn't come as a surprise
Cornwall council offered suppliers £6m to staff illegal children’s…
Regulators intervene after UK local authority accused of normalising unlawful placements
www.thebureauinvestigates.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:43 AM
'Cornwall council offered suppliers £6m to staff illegal children’s homes'
This might be a new low in terms of normalising children living in unlawful settings, but unfortunately, it really shouldn't come as a surprise
This might be a new low in terms of normalising children living in unlawful settings, but unfortunately, it really shouldn't come as a surprise
Completely agree that Labour’s public service reform plans are patchy. Starmer isn’t a reformer but even a PM who was would have struggled to deliver serious improvements to public services in this parliament without raising taxes. The spending plans inherited from Sunak/Hunt didn’t add up
Hiking tax is much more than merely the breach of a manifesto commitment. It is the death of the idea at the heart of Starmer’s project: that Labour would leave its comfort zone and govern by reform and growth, not tax and spend.
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
November 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Completely agree that Labour’s public service reform plans are patchy. Starmer isn’t a reformer but even a PM who was would have struggled to deliver serious improvements to public services in this parliament without raising taxes. The spending plans inherited from Sunak/Hunt didn’t add up
Reposted by Nick Davies
For too long, growth-enhancing tax reforms have been prevented by the intense political heat that surrounds any such changes. This new report should help create space for this and future governments to make much-needed improvements www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cros...
Cross-party agreement can create political space for tax reform | Institute for Government
It is time to take the political heat out of attempts to reform the tax system.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:28 AM
For too long, growth-enhancing tax reforms have been prevented by the intense political heat that surrounds any such changes. This new report should help create space for this and future governments to make much-needed improvements www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/cros...
Great write up in the FT by @laurahughesft.bsky.social of @amberdellar.bsky.social's new schools report.
It's striking how quickly pupil numbers are falling (particularly in London) but how slowly school capacity is adapting. That's left 600k places unfilled and put huge pressure on school finances
It's striking how quickly pupil numbers are falling (particularly in London) but how slowly school capacity is adapting. That's left 600k places unfilled and put huge pressure on school finances
Number of unfilled primary school places in England hits record high
IfG report shows London has been disproportionately affected by drop in pupil numbers
www.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Great write up in the FT by @laurahughesft.bsky.social of @amberdellar.bsky.social's new schools report.
It's striking how quickly pupil numbers are falling (particularly in London) but how slowly school capacity is adapting. That's left 600k places unfilled and put huge pressure on school finances
It's striking how quickly pupil numbers are falling (particularly in London) but how slowly school capacity is adapting. That's left 600k places unfilled and put huge pressure on school finances
Amazing work by Amber!
This is part of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's Public Services Performance Tracker 2025. We've published chapters on local govt, criminal justice + schools. NHS + cross-service analysis chapters will be out in next 2 weeks
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
This is part of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's Public Services Performance Tracker 2025. We've published chapters on local govt, criminal justice + schools. NHS + cross-service analysis chapters will be out in next 2 weeks
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Amazing work by Amber!
This is part of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's Public Services Performance Tracker 2025. We've published chapters on local govt, criminal justice + schools. NHS + cross-service analysis chapters will be out in next 2 weeks
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
This is part of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's Public Services Performance Tracker 2025. We've published chapters on local govt, criminal justice + schools. NHS + cross-service analysis chapters will be out in next 2 weeks
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Reposted by Nick Davies
NEW REPORT Labour is struggling to meet its education priorities. It has big ambitions to improve schools, but a budget that falls short of matching them. And with no clear plans to reform the SEND system or tackle workforce shortages, children are being left without the support they need.
Performance Tracker 2025: Schools | Institute for Government
It will be extremely difficult for the government to meet its education priorities within the budget it has set for the coming parliament.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM
NEW REPORT Labour is struggling to meet its education priorities. It has big ambitions to improve schools, but a budget that falls short of matching them. And with no clear plans to reform the SEND system or tackle workforce shortages, children are being left without the support they need.
Reposted by Nick Davies
WEBINAR | Autumn budget 2025: What is Rachel Reeves’ plan for the economy?
Our IfG team will share their instant and analysis of the chancellor’s plans @jillongovt.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @njdavies.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/online...
Our IfG team will share their instant and analysis of the chancellor’s plans @jillongovt.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @njdavies.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/online...
November 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
WEBINAR | Autumn budget 2025: What is Rachel Reeves’ plan for the economy?
Our IfG team will share their instant and analysis of the chancellor’s plans @jillongovt.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @njdavies.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/online...
Our IfG team will share their instant and analysis of the chancellor’s plans @jillongovt.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @njdavies.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/online...
Reposted by Nick Davies
Some thoughts on the Kruger press conference on reforming government, and Reform in government
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/dann...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/dann...
October 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Some thoughts on the Kruger press conference on reforming government, and Reform in government
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/dann...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/dann...
I absolute love the idea of a 'Medium Term Planning Framework' being the most ambitous anything. Really hope they try to better this with 'Short Term Guidance Note puts Beveridge in the shade'
Quite a bold claim from the NHS, given that it published its 10 year health plan just a few months ago
October 30, 2025 at 8:34 AM
I absolute love the idea of a 'Medium Term Planning Framework' being the most ambitous anything. Really hope they try to better this with 'Short Term Guidance Note puts Beveridge in the shade'
Reposted by Nick Davies
How well are the police performing?
Cassia Rowland from the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sums up their new Public Services Performance Tracker on policing in the first in a new guest blog series
www.russellwebster.com/how-well-are...
Cassia Rowland from the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sums up their new Public Services Performance Tracker on policing in the first in a new guest blog series
www.russellwebster.com/how-well-are...
How well are the police performing?
Cassia Rowland from the Institute for Government sums up their new Public Services Performance Tracker on policing.
www.russellwebster.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:41 AM
How well are the police performing?
Cassia Rowland from the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sums up their new Public Services Performance Tracker on policing in the first in a new guest blog series
www.russellwebster.com/how-well-are...
Cassia Rowland from the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sums up their new Public Services Performance Tracker on policing in the first in a new guest blog series
www.russellwebster.com/how-well-are...
Worth noting that in Nov 24 the govt wrote to South Cambridgeshire to say that voters were best placed to decide on council effectiveness and that Labour would bring an “end to micromanaging”
I’d like to see the full text of this latest letter to see what has changed
I’d like to see the full text of this latest letter to see what has changed
October 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Worth noting that in Nov 24 the govt wrote to South Cambridgeshire to say that voters were best placed to decide on council effectiveness and that Labour would bring an “end to micromanaging”
I’d like to see the full text of this latest letter to see what has changed
I’d like to see the full text of this latest letter to see what has changed
Reposted by Nick Davies
New comment from me on the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu: this error reflects much broader problems within prisons and across the criminal justice system
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...
The mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu is a symptom of a failing system | Institute for Government
The problems in criminal justice run far deeper than one high-profile error.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
New comment from me on the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu: this error reflects much broader problems within prisons and across the criminal justice system
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pris...
Reposted by Nick Davies
New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment from me
The chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry last week highlights much deeper problems with the way the government sets up public inquiries
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/groo...
The chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry last week highlights much deeper problems with the way the government sets up public inquiries
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/groo...
The government must explain and defend its grooming gang inquiry decisions | Institute for Government
Some disagreement when setting up an inquiry isn’t necessarily bad – but how it is handled matters.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk comment from me
The chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry last week highlights much deeper problems with the way the government sets up public inquiries
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/groo...
The chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry last week highlights much deeper problems with the way the government sets up public inquiries
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/groo...
Reposted by Nick Davies
Really looking forward to this discussion in a few weeks - as the PM tries to build his case for digital ID, we'll be discussing what it is for, who it helps and what some of the challenges might be.
A great panel to discuss this with - do come along!
A great panel to discuss this with - do come along!
EVENT | The government's digital ID plan: why now and what for?💳
@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, @bigbrotherwatch.bsky.social, @labourtogether.bsky.social, @timdurrant.bsky.social
discuss the advantages and challenges of implementing digital IDs.
🎟️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, @bigbrotherwatch.bsky.social, @labourtogether.bsky.social, @timdurrant.bsky.social
discuss the advantages and challenges of implementing digital IDs.
🎟️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
October 27, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Really looking forward to this discussion in a few weeks - as the PM tries to build his case for digital ID, we'll be discussing what it is for, who it helps and what some of the challenges might be.
A great panel to discuss this with - do come along!
A great panel to discuss this with - do come along!
The justice minister is right to be 'absolutely terrified' of prisons running out of space. As @cassiarowland.bsky.social's report showed last week, prison capacity will be on a knife edge for the next two years unless the govt takes further action to free up space
October 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
The justice minister is right to be 'absolutely terrified' of prisons running out of space. As @cassiarowland.bsky.social's report showed last week, prison capacity will be on a knife edge for the next two years unless the govt takes further action to free up space
Reposted by Nick Davies
Well this is a particularly depressing illustration of what a collapsing justice system looks like. 262 people were released from prison by mistake in 2024/25 — more than twice the previous year and almost 4.5x 2014/15
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
October 25, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Well this is a particularly depressing illustration of what a collapsing justice system looks like. 262 people were released from prison by mistake in 2024/25 — more than twice the previous year and almost 4.5x 2014/15
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
I’m extremely taken with Jack’s suggestion of a Hamiltonian rap battle about the Public Services Performance Tracker.
There’s a worryingly high chance that I attempt to rap in the Monday morning team meeting…
There’s a worryingly high chance that I attempt to rap in the Monday morning team meeting…
October 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I’m extremely taken with Jack’s suggestion of a Hamiltonian rap battle about the Public Services Performance Tracker.
There’s a worryingly high chance that I attempt to rap in the Monday morning team meeting…
There’s a worryingly high chance that I attempt to rap in the Monday morning team meeting…
Reposted by Nick Davies
Niche post: the government has announced that the Cabinet Office, rather than the Govt Digital Service (part of the Dept for Science and Tech, DSIT), will run the Digital ID programme
When Labour came in they moved much of govt's central digital capability to DSIT...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
When Labour came in they moved much of govt's central digital capability to DSIT...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Machinery of government: digital ID
The government has announced a machinery of government change
www.gov.uk
October 23, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Niche post: the government has announced that the Cabinet Office, rather than the Govt Digital Service (part of the Dept for Science and Tech, DSIT), will run the Digital ID programme
When Labour came in they moved much of govt's central digital capability to DSIT...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
When Labour came in they moved much of govt's central digital capability to DSIT...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Nick Davies
Some - cautious - good news on the govt’s civil service gagging rules
Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...
Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...
A welcome clarification on the rules ‘gagging’ civil servants | Institute for Government
New guidance on civil servants speaking in public is a welcome return to common sense.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Some - cautious - good news on the govt’s civil service gagging rules
Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...
Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...
Reposted by Nick Davies
To explain this a bit:
as the Speaker says- and as is set out in Erskine May- "unless the discussion is based upon a substantive motion, drawn in proper terms, reflections must not be cast in debate upon the conduct of the Sovereign, the heir to the throne, or other members of the royal family"
as the Speaker says- and as is set out in Erskine May- "unless the discussion is based upon a substantive motion, drawn in proper terms, reflections must not be cast in debate upon the conduct of the Sovereign, the heir to the throne, or other members of the royal family"
Lindsay Hoyle suggests government, not parliamentary rules, to blame for MPs not getting chance to debate Prince Andrew - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
October 23, 2025 at 9:33 AM
To explain this a bit:
as the Speaker says- and as is set out in Erskine May- "unless the discussion is based upon a substantive motion, drawn in proper terms, reflections must not be cast in debate upon the conduct of the Sovereign, the heir to the throne, or other members of the royal family"
as the Speaker says- and as is set out in Erskine May- "unless the discussion is based upon a substantive motion, drawn in proper terms, reflections must not be cast in debate upon the conduct of the Sovereign, the heir to the throne, or other members of the royal family"
Great thread from Maria looking into what's going on with productivity in the criminal courts
Really pleased to have contributed to the new criminal justice section of Performance Tracker 2025, now live on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s website. It brings together new analysis on police, criminal courts and prisons. Some thoughts below. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Performance Tracker 2025: Criminal justice system | Institute for Government
The government must act to avoid the justice system returning to the crisis point seen when Labour entered office, or worse.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Great thread from Maria looking into what's going on with productivity in the criminal courts