Tim Durrant
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timdurrant.bsky.social
Tim Durrant
@timdurrant.bsky.social
5.9K followers 1.8K following 620 posts
Programme Director at the Institute for Government - interested in how government works and how it can work better

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timdurrant.bsky.social
You want me to upload the data where?
An update from gov.uk called "Uploading data to the National Fraud Initiative"
November 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
EVENT |The government's digital ID plan: why now and what for?

An expert panel discusses what problems digital ID would solve and the challenges of implementing the policy. @timdurrant.bsky.social @morganwild.bsky.social @matthewfeeney.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
November 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
WEBINAR | The Covid Inquiry: What does Module II say about government decision making and political governance?

Join our IfG experts webinar to unpack the Covid Inquiry's findings and explore their implications for future governance.

🎟️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/covid-...
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
drmatthewgill.bsky.social
1/4 Lisa Nandy may have explained her mistake, but questions remain about the appointment process for Chair of the Independent Football Regulator, mainly for DCMS. Pages 11-12 of the Commissioner's decision notice are worth reading: publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/u...
November 7, 2025 at 12:26 PM
timdurrant.bsky.social
I wrote this last week, and then last night we find out that Lisa Nandy has been rapped over the knuckles for failing to acknowledge donations from the government's nominee to chair the new Football Regulator.

Again - just check things properly people, make sure you're squeaky clean!
timdurrant.bsky.social Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 11d
Now we know - Reeves clearly did make a mistake: having been told by the estate agents that they would sort the relevant licence, she assumed it had been sorted. Seems legit!

But stand by this: ministers need to take this stuff seriously, and go through their own affairs with a fine toothed comb!
instituteforgovernment.org.uk Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 11d
The chancellor’s failure to manage her housing arrangements properly is another reminder that Keir Starmer’s team need to take standards seriously, says @timdurrant.bsky.social

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
November 7, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
EVENT |The government's digital ID plan: why now and what for?

@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, @matthewfeeney.bsky.social, @timdurrant.bsky.social will discusses what problems digital ID would solve and the challenges of implementing the policy.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/govern...
November 7, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
amberdellar.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Tim Durrant
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Cross-party agreement can create political space for tax reform

It is time to take the political heat out of attempts to reform the tax system, says @gemmatetlow.bsky.social 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 4:01 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
sammacrory.bsky.social
NEW: the latest in our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Performance Tracker series is out today

And ace colleague @amberdellar.bsky.social has been looking at school performance

The data is.. worrying

@laurahughesft.bsky.social at the @financialtimes.com has the story

www.ft.com/content/9be6...
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 8:44 AM
timdurrant.bsky.social
I am not an education policy person, so not going to comment on the content of these proposals.

What I find interesting is, as the piece notes, how this is a move against the last government's education policies, seen by many as one of their big successes...

www.theguardian.com/education/20...
England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review
Experts say pupils should spend less time in exam halls and more time on activities like life skills, sport and work experience
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:53 AM
timdurrant.bsky.social
With thanks to @sophiedaud.bsky.social for spotting it, the government has confirmed that Exercise Pegasus has now concluded - though there will be another phase, looking at recovery, in the new year - and then they'll be publishing the results

Great to see govt practising its crisis response...
November 5, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
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...
November 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
spotlightcorruption.org
💥 Great to see @philbrickellmp.bsky.social flag the need for the Ministerial Code & Independent Adviser to be on a statutory footing. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill – or #HillsboroughBill – is a crucial opportunity for the govt to finally act on this key recommendation from ethics experts.
November 4, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
jillongovt.bsky.social
and a lot of other things messing up the economy - just all seems a bit -- late?
November 4, 2025 at 8:28 AM
timdurrant.bsky.social
I feel like this speech could have been an email?
November 4, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Rachel Reeves cannot start to blame Brexit now for her economic fix

@jillongovt.bsky.social takes a closer look at why the government is talking about Brexit and the economy again 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
November 3, 2025 at 9:57 AM
timdurrant.bsky.social
This is a great read. Polly's point that support for political leaders needs to come from their parties is spot on - with the best will in the world, when it comes to personal skills and behaviours, politicians don't always want to listen to civil servants (or even independent orgs like the IfG)...
November 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Have you seen @ifgacademy.bsky.social Support for MPs webpages, packed with super useful guides and explainers to help MPs understand parliament and government?

Perfect for MPs and their staff!

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ifg-academy/...
October 31, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy?

Our latest explainer takes a closer look at the monarch's powers and role in relation to parliament and the legislative process, and whether parliament can remove royal titles
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mo...
The monarch, royal family and parliament | Institute for Government
What is the relationship between government, parliament and the monarchy?
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:11 PM
timdurrant.bsky.social
Now we know - Reeves clearly did make a mistake: having been told by the estate agents that they would sort the relevant licence, she assumed it had been sorted. Seems legit!

But stand by this: ministers need to take this stuff seriously, and go through their own affairs with a fine toothed comb!
October 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
alexgathomas.bsky.social
Some thoughts on the Kruger press conference on reforming government, and Reform in government

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/dann...
October 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM
timdurrant.bsky.social
If there's one thing that unites everyone in the country - rich/poor, north/south - it's frustration at poor service and gobbledegook emails from estate agents
October 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
timdurrant.bsky.social
Another day, another standards question facing this government... while the PM shut this case down very quickly, ministers across government need to actually learn from it this time

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
Rachel Reeves’ rental mistake is another standards warning to Keir Starmer’s ministers | Institute for Government
Standards slip-ups are distracting and damaging the Starmer government.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Tim Durrant
sldelange.bsky.social
With the official prognosis giving one additional seat to PVV and one to FvD compared to the ext poll, the narrative should really not be that the Netherlands/Jetten has beaten the radical right. The far right bloc remains remarkably stable.
October 30, 2025 at 7:01 AM
timdurrant.bsky.social
Great piece from Rebecca - the government needs to rethink how public inquiries work and be clear what they want them to achieve, to make sure they work for the victims and learn lessons
October 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM