Thomas Pope

@tompope.bsky.social

1.3K followers 350 following 99 posts

Deputy Chief Economist @instituteforgov.bsky.social

On Twitter @tompope0

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Economics 44%

Business 23%

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Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · Sep 24

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report by me, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social on how Reeves should approach tax this Autumn

With tax rises inevitable, Reeves should reject path of least resistance and embrace tax reform 1/3

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The 2025 budget and beyond: How Rachel Reeves can approach tax reform to help drive growth | Institute for Government

A big autumn approaches for the chancellor.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope, Gemma Tetlow, Jill Rutter

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · 4d

Has Rachel Reeves rolled the budget pitch?

And how did former chancellors manage expectations?

Fascinating @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast with @stewartwood.bsky.social Giles Winn @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/rach...

Rachel Reeves and the art of pitch rolling the budget | Institute for Government

Former Treasury advisers Stewart Wood and Giles Winn reveal how chancellors prepare the ground for budget day.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 6d

The dramatic rise in prisoners released in error is just one aspect of a collapsing criminal justice system.

Read our recent comment from @cassiarowland.bsky.social following today's news of another mistaken prisoner release
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

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 6d

What if there was a consensus on the tax reforms the UK needs?

What if it was backed by policy experts from think tanks across the political spectrum, from the Adam Smith Institute to the Resolution Foundation?

The consensus is real. The question is: will anyone act on it?

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 6d

There are only three weeks to go until Rachel Reeves delivers her second budget as chancellor.

Follow our autumn budget 2025 page for our analysis of the current fiscal context facing the chancellor and how Reeves should approach tax policy making www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/autumn-budge...

Autumn budget 2025 | Institute for Government

On Wednesday 26 November, Rachel Reeves will deliver her second budget as chancellor.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 7d

and a lot of other things messing up the economy - just all seems a bit -- late?

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 7d

The government has finally decided it can talk about the economic impact of Brexit.

But that simply exposes the limits of its plans to deal with Brexit’s consequences, says @jillongovt.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

Rachel Reeves cannot start to blame Brexit now for her economic fix | Institute for Government

Why is the government talking about Brexit and the economy again?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · 18d

I'm back on the IfG podcast! Great to welcome @dannyshaw.bsky.social to discuss just a few of the big home affairs stories dominating the news this week - as well as our new report. Have a listen!
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/pris...

The Prisons Crisis Strikes Back | Institute for Government

Former BBC journalist and Labour adviser Danny Shaw joins the podcast team to discuss the state of the criminal justice system.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · 19d

NEW REPORT Criminal justice is coming apart at the seams. Police, criminal courts & prisons can’t cope with the level of demand and performance keeps spiralling downwards. Early positive steps from the government won't be enough to turn things around
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

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 20d

While we wait for the second part of our Performance Tracker 2025, join us for the launch of one of our much awaited events of the year. @amberdellar.bsky.social @cassiarowland.bsky.social @jesstud.bsky.social @nuffieldtrust.org.uk

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/labour...

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 22d

Our #DevoLab2 is happening today!

Join us at The Exchange - University of Birmingham to learn how mayors' and strategic authorities' powers can be used to secure and deliver private investment for key regional strategic projects.

🎟️Get your ticket:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/devola...

Reposted by Thomas Pope, Gemma Tetlow

Ben Paxton @drbenpaxton.bsky.social · 26d

Guardian article here: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

And top tips on how to do tax reform from @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social here:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The 2025 budget and beyond: How Rachel Reeves can approach tax reform to help drive growth | Institute for Government

A big autumn approaches for the chancellor.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 27d

The point of a multi-year spending review and regular SR cycle is to provide stability. That stability allows frontline public services to make long-term decisions that will deliver better outcomes and VfM. It's a big failure of policymaking if spending decisions are being reopened 4 months later

Chancellor admits tax rises and spending cuts considered for budget

Speaking exclusively to Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates, Rachel Reeves says Brexit, austerity, and the Liz Truss mini-budget have all played a role in damaging Britain's economy - as she prep...

news.sky.com

Reposted by Thomas Pope, Jill Rutter

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · Oct 9

Flagged in this morning’s Politico Playbook, here’s @tompope.bsky.social’s excellent new @instituteforgovernment.org.uk blog on Kemi Badenoch’s stamp duty plan - and why the sums don’t quite add up.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · Oct 8

Yes I think so... The Block Grant Adjustment for SDLT would go to zero, so all else equal the grant from Westminster to Scotland/Wales under Barnett would increase. If the cut were funded by cuts to spending on devolved areas, it would mostly net off

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Oct 8

In light of Kemi Badenoch’s pledge to abolish stamp duty, @jillongovt.bsky.social is refreshing our memory with a very useful explainer on Stamp Duty Land Tax:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/expl...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · Oct 8

You can hear more about that and everything else at Conservative Party conference in our podcast, out now!

bsky.app/profile/samm...

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · Oct 8

🎧NEW: Lessons in Kemistry..

Brilliant Conservative Party conference (& stamp duty) analysis on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast

@drhannahwhite.bsky.social @alexgathomas.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social
and Patrick English of @yougov.co.uk

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

Lessons in Kemistry | Institute for Government

YouGov's Patrick English joined the Inside Briefing team in Manchester to assess the state of the official opposition.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · Oct 8

My instant reaction to Badenoch's stamp duty announcement for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Stamp duty is a bad tax. But abolishing it without a broader reform of property taxes would be a missed opportunity and hard to afford.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/kemi...

Kemi Badenoch’s promise to abolish stamp duty has ducked tax trade-offs | Institute for Government

Do Kemi Badenoch's stamp duty sums add up?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · Oct 8

Lessons in Kemistry | Institute for Government

YouGov's Patrick English joined the Inside Briefing team in Manchester to assess the state of the official opposition.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · Oct 8

Last week the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk travelled north to Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference 2025.

At our event on the Monday, with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social & chaired by @tompope.bsky.social we explored how local places can maximise the benefits of devolution to drive growth

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Rebecca McKee @rebeccamckee.bsky.social · Oct 8

A the end of last month @instituteforgovernment.org.uk headed to Bournemouth for the Liberal Democrat Party Conference 2025

We held an event in partnership with @uniofsurrey.bsky.social exploring how local places can ensure devolution delivers economic growth, chaired by @tompope.bsky.social

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Sam Macrory @sammacrory.bsky.social · Sep 26

🎧Starmer’s Liverpool Drama?

Ex-No10 adviser Tom
Webb joins the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast to preview the @teamlabouruk.bsky.social conference (& review @libdems.org.uk conf)

With @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @jillongovt.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Starmer’s Liverpool Drama

Podcast Episode · Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · 24/09/2025 · 32m

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · Sep 25

Fortunately @jillongovt.bsky.social has just written us an excellent explainer on digital ID cards! Everything you need to know here… www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/di...

www.thetimes.com/article/3fed...

All UK adults to require digital ID under Keir Starmer plan

The ‘Brit card’ would be part of efforts to tackle illegal migration by verifying right to live and work in Britain

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · Sep 25

NEW REPORT: @instituteforgovernment.org.uk finds that confused missions, pervasive risk aversion, poor data quality, insufficient commericial capability, and a failure to focus on outcomes means that govt is failing to make the most of £400bn+ a year it spends on procurement

The role of procurement in delivering mission-led government | Institute for Government

How can the government remove the barriers to its missions?

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Reposted by Thomas Pope, Gemma Tetlow

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Sep 24

Follow our autumn budget 2025 page for more in the lead up to Reeves' second budget as chancellor on Weds 26 November www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/autumn-budge...

Follow the team @gemmatetlow.bsky.social @tompope.bsky.social @drbenpaxton.bsky.social @danhaile.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social

Autumn budget 2025 | Institute for Government

On Wednesday 26 November, Rachel Reeves will deliver her second budget as chancellor.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · Sep 24

So Reeves should
Choose sensible tax increases this autumn, even if that means revisiting tax pledges

Set out tax strategy for reform over the parliament with clear principles and objectives

Some ideas for what that might look like in the paper
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
3/3

The 2025 budget and beyond: How Rachel Reeves can approach tax reform to help drive growth | Institute for Government

A big autumn approaches for the chancellor.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Thomas Pope @tompope.bsky.social · Sep 24

As Reeves looks to raise revenue, she will be tempted to follow previous chancellors and an eclectic grab bag of tax raisers that further complicate the system

But that would be a mistake, even if it is easiest in short-term. It will harm growth and leave chancellor without a narrative on tax 2/3

Reposted by Thomas Pope

Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · Sep 22

A deteriorating fiscal outlook since March means Rachel Reeves is likely to need to raise taxes

@danhaile.bsky.social and @tompope.bsky.social argue that Rachel Reeves should use the budget to reset her fiscal strategy www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...