As @helenmiller.bsky.social from said when accepting the award, the evening was a great reminder of the vitality of the UK's think tank sector - organisations of all sizes, specialisms and political leanings - at a time when we really need new and innovative thinking to tackle big policy challenges

Other big winners from the night included @jo3hill.bsky.social from @re-state.bsky.social as 'Think Tanker of the Year' and @theifs.bsky.social as 'Think Tank of the Year'.

Massive well done to all those who won, and to @smartthinking.bsky.social's Emily Redding for masterminding the whole thing!

And if you want to dive into more detail on it all, you can read the full report - 'In Power 01: Transforming Downing Street' - here: www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/in-...

Keir Starmer has said 'the fight for trust is the battle that defines our age'.

That fight can only be won if govt is once again seen to deliver, as a force for good.

And that can only happen if the state is properly configured to achieve it.

'In Power 01' sets out how we think you can do that.

The new Downing St should have its own hiring practices, including being able to recruit people on a single contract so as to get the best hires, regardless of background.

This great @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer sets out what's possible: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/sp...

Alongside changes to structures and process, we also recommend a cultural reset at the centre of govt, so that it is much more outward-facing and has real clarity of purpose, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and is set up to attract and retain the very best talent from across the UK

We propose a new, standalone department for the PM - 'Downing Street' - bringing the UK in line with other democracies like Australia, Canada and Sweden who all have this in place.

Our model would see this new dept organised around four groups

From all our conversations and research, one conclusion was clear: the centre of govt is not set up to help the PM deliver, and hasn't been for a while.

If Keir Starmer and team are to deliver on their political programme and rebuild trust in govt from historic lows, they need to reform the centre

I remember in the Brexit context a lot of those warning there might be negative consequences being dismissed as 'Cassandras', implying their critics probably hadn't read to the end of that particular tale

In his piece Lord Dubs references the new @futuregovforum.bsky.social essay collection 'The Future of Asylum – A vision for renewal', published just ahead of Labour Conference and for which he kindly wrote the foreword.

Read the collection in full: www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/resource/the...