Harriet Shaw
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shawharriet.bsky.social
Harriet Shaw
@shawharriet.bsky.social
320 followers 220 following 17 posts
Researcher (devolution) @instituteforgovernment
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shawharriet.bsky.social
We're heading out of London again🐝... Join us on 25 Feb in Manchester (or online) for our fourth #IfGDevoLab as GMCA, WECA and Homes England share what works - real lessons on how mayors can boost the supply of affordable homes 🏡
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 21h
EVENT | How can mayors help deliver more affordable homes?

Join us on Weds 25 Feb in Manchester for the next DevoLab session, exploring the challenges and opportunities for combined authorities in boosting housing supply.

Register now www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
February 16, 2026 at 5:33 PM
shawharriet.bsky.social
Great thread from @matthewfright.bsky.social on the government's reversal of the local election delay. Ultimately the right outcome but yet another messy u-turn that's cost time and goodwill.
matthewfright.bsky.social Matthew Fright @matthewfright.bsky.social · 14h
Earlier the government reversed its decision to delay elections in 30 areas across England. This is a welcome decision. At the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk we've previously argued elections should only be delayed in exceptional circumstances.
February 16, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
EVENT | In conversation with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru

📆 Mon 2 March, 12:30–13:30

Join us to hear @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social discuss the 2026 Senedd election, his plan for government, and @plaidcymru.bsky.social’s vision for Wales www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/rhun-a...
An image for an IfG event:In conversation with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru Monday 02 March 2026, 12:30 — 13:30 (GMT)
February 3, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
meganisaac.bsky.social
1/ With only a few months until the May elections, in this new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer we outline where elections are going ahead, where they aren’t, and what’s at stake🧵👇

 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...
Local elections 2026 | Institute for Government
On Thursday, 7 May 2026, local elections will take place in many parts of England.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM
shawharriet.bsky.social
Big developments for NPR. Gvt has set out a phased £45bn plan to improve rail across the North, starting with upgrades in Yorkshire.

As we highlighted at our DevoLab event, improving regional transport is key for driving growth and opportunity: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
IfG DevoLab #3: How devolution can improve transport connectivity | Institute for Government
The IfG was in Leeds to explore how mayors and local leaders can use devolved powers to improve regional transport connectivity.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 14, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
meganisaac.bsky.social
Today at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk we have spent the day looking ahead to the key questions for government in 2026. With crucial elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils in May, what are Kezia Dugdale, Guto Harri, Akash Paun and Luke Tryl looking out for?🧵
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Jan 13
Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics? - is starting in 15 minutes!

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
January 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
shawharriet.bsky.social
Starting soon! Definitely one to tune into
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Jan 13
Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics? - is starting in 15 minutes!

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
January 13, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
hannahkeenan.bsky.social
📢NEW REPORT📢
Every year @instituteforgovernment.org.uk sets out the latest on the civil service - size, professions, pay, morale. You name it, we analyse it. This year's report is out today.
If you're interested in state capacity, you should be interested in what's happening in the civil service. 🧵
Whitehall Monitor 2026 | Institute for Government
Labour’s efforts to ‘rewire the state’ aren’t addressing longstanding workforce problems.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 13, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
We are really pleased to announce that our Government 2026 annual conference at the IfG will kick start with a keynote speech by Wes Streeting at 8:30am. He will be in conversation with @drhannahwhite.bsky.social

Join us online:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
January 12, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics?

Join us at Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 January when we will discuss with @kezdugdale.bsky.social, Guto Harri, @akashpaun.bsky.social @luketryl.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
An image for an IfG event. Elections 2026: How could votes in England, Scotland and Wales reshape British politics? Tuesday 13 January, 13:45 - 14:45 Kezia Dugdale, former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy Guto Harri, Broadcaster and former No.10 Director of Communications Akash Paun, Programme Director (Devolution) at the Institute for Government Luke Tryl, Director of More in Common This session will be chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.
December 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
meganisaac.bsky.social
1/ Earlier this month, the government indicated that it would postpone the inaugural May 2026 mayoral elections in four areas on the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).

But what is the DPP? Why are these places getting mayors? And why are they undergoing local government reorganisation? 🧵
December 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
cathhaddon.bsky.social
Great new piece from @akashpaun.bsky.social on the decision to delay next year’s mayoral elections.

“even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028”

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...
Mayoral elections in priority areas should be held in May 2027 at the very latest | Institute for Government
The government has not made a convincing case for postponement.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
shawharriet.bsky.social
1/ Today we publish the first policy briefing in our new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk DevoLab series. In partnership with @impurbanhealth.bsky.social, and following on from our event in July, we’ve explored how devolution can address health inequalities 🧵
December 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
shawharriet.bsky.social
The decision to delay mayoral elections reflects poorly on the government, and is a disappointing step back in a policy area in which they had previously been making real progress.

More from @akashpaun.bsky.social, @matthewfright.bsky.social, @meganisaac.bsky.social and me, below 👇
December 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Government 2026: IfG's annual conference 🚨

Join us on Tuesday 13 January as we bring together influential speakers to explore the key questions for government over the next 12 months.

Register to attend online 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...

With @grantthorntonuk.bsky.social
An image ad for the IfG's one-day conference. Government 2026 on Tuesday 13 January, 09:00-17:00 In the right corner is an image of 10 Downing Street.
December 3, 2025 at 11:42 AM
shawharriet.bsky.social
New funding plans for mayors may not have made the headlines last week but they represent important steps on the government's journey to 'complete the map' of English devolution.

More from me, @akashpaun.bsky.social and @matthewfright.bsky.social below.
December 1, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
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 3:34 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social
NEW: Report from me and @nehaldavison.bsky.social on how and why boys from low-income families get left behind in their early years
🧵⬇️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
The opportunity gap facing boys from low-income families at age 5 and beyond | Institute for Government
Early attainment gaps mean some boys don't just start behind, they stay behind.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
njdavies.bsky.social
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 🧵
RAG table showing ratings for 9 public services. It includes the following summaries for progress since the 2024 election: General practice - Progress on salaried GPs, but no steps taken to make partnership more attractive Hospitals - Government has set out high-level ambitions and reduced competing priorities, but no detail of implementation Adult social care - Largely ignored. Ending the care visa route without a workable solution for Fair Pay Agreements could cause workforce shortages Children's social care - Government has set out a clear and ambitious vision for reform and has backed it with relatively generous funding Homelessness - Early signs are encouraging, but government has yet to set out its homelessness strategy Schools - Government's plan to reduce inequalities in schools and tackle teacher shortages are unclear, and the crisis in SEND services casts a long shadow Police - Government has made limited progress in increasing neighbourhood officer numbers and has yet to announce details of planned reforms Criminal Courts - Increasing court sitting days was welcome, if done too late, but the government has yet to announce a longer-term plan Prisons - Rapid action addressed the immediate population crisis, but there has been limited progress towards a longer-term solution
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
meganisaac.bsky.social
1/ Tomorrow, @instituteforgovernment.org.uk will be joined by First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, to reflect on his first 18 months in office and discuss Scotland's political and constitutional future.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/john-s...
In conversation with John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland | Institute for Government
John Swinney joins us to discuss his priorities as First Minister, and the SNP’s vision ahead of the 2026 Scottish parliament election.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Abolishing police and crime commissioners now is putting the cart before the horse

The government should have firmed up its broader plans on English devolution and police reform before announcing the abolition of PCCs. @cassiarowland.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/poli...
Abolishing police and crime commissioners now is putting the cart before the horse | Institute for Government
The benefits of new ‘policing boards’ over police and crime commissioners are far from clear.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
njdavies.bsky.social
Guardian’s top story is @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social’s analysis of NHS performance, the latest release from Public Service Performance Tracker 2025.

There are some positives from past years but these risk being undermined by loss of GP partners, social care failures and chaotic approach to reform
Wes Streeting accused of ‘chaotic and incoherent approach’ to NHS reform
Exclusive: thinktank report finds health secretary has failed to improve productivity, with the health service unlikely to meet its targets
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
meganisaac.bsky.social
Although all eyes are on the Caerphilly by-election tomorrow, the real shift is coming in May with the reform of the Senedd electoral system transforming how Wales votes — and possibly who holds power.

What’s changing and why does it matter? 🧵

@instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Harriet Shaw
shaina-sangha.bsky.social
PSA: We have a new (and long) @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer out on the immigration and asylum policies of the major parties (of England...) following a flurry of announcements all year and around conference season, in particular.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/im...
Immigration and asylum: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Reform and Green positions | Institute for Government
What have the different political parties announced on immigration and asylum in the run up to – and during – the 2025 autumn conference season?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
shawharriet.bsky.social
🚀 DevoLab #2: How can mayors & strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies?🚀

📅 Mon 20 Oct, 13:30 BST
📍 Birmingham or online
🔗 Register below
💡 Insights on how devolved powers are being used to unlock private investment
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Oct 13
IfG DevoLab #2: How can mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies?

At this event, we explore how mayoral leadership has helped to secure investment into growth projects @akashpaun.bsky.social @jpgibson.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...
October 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM