This article from the Times uses Oflog data in a really damaging way and paints an unrealistic picture of local authority performance

As Rhys Clyne and I warned in our report last year, it also undermines local gov trust in Oflog

Short thread

thetimes.co.uk/article/worst-…

There is no getting away from Productivity being the word of the year for the NHS. Whilst the variables impacting on productivity are complex. (This Institute for Government graphic is the best I’ve seen.)
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Everyone agrees that investing in prevention could save money and improve productivity. But with funding tight and demand for acute services high, doing so is easier said that done

On 22 May we'll be discussing how to overcome these barriers

Register:
instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/preventa…

Yesterday, the FT reported that Labour will axe the phrase 'Levelling Up'. ft.com/content/f30041…

This is not surprising: it was the central plank of a Conservative manifesto.

A couple of thoughts on this what this might mean for regional policy... 1/6

Great thread on the relative level of crime in London compared to other major cities around the world — you might be surprised (particularly if you’ve been looking at some of the mayoral election manifestos!)

Nick Davies Institute for Fiscal Studies Unless I'm mistaken, it's perhaps worth clarifying that the paper uses public front counter closures to measure 'police station closures', and at least some of those buildings are still in operational use, including I believe some patrol bases. met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropo…

The 20,000 police officer uplift has reversed the drop in officer numbers due to austerity - but closed police stations have not reopened, with some areas having lost 75% of local stations. I dug into this paper from elisa facchetti on the impact of closing stations in London 🧵

Our new Institute for Government report reveals a third of regulators have not been scrutinised by parliament since 2019 - and that they are only usually called in once a problem hits the front pages.

Is this a problem? What should parliament do about it?🧵1/10

instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/pa…

Increasing defence spending will require even deeper cuts elsewhere, unless Rishi Sunak is willing to raise taxes – and cutting 70,000 civil service jobs will get nowhere close to delivering the savings needed argues ⁦Gemma Tetlow⁩ instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rishi-…

Our new #WeekInPublicServices is out! Take a look at what's been going on across public services this week, from illegal care homes to the loss of more than 3,000 prisons spaces since 2010 due to poor maintenance. medium.com/week-in-public…

Recommend reading this research.

Depressing but unpadded facts and figures.

#justicesystem

Really interesting virtual debate being held on 23 April by Acas Will Hutton Civil Mediation Council (CMC) on how informal approaches to conflict resolution can build employer confidence, staff engagement, and a more productive Britain. Contact [email protected] for more info

Brilliant new public service productivity explainer by Thomas Pope & Cassia Rowland

What is public service productivity?
How is it measured?
How has it changed?
What was the impact of the pandemic?
What can govt do to improve it?

All the answers here:
instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/publ…

This is so counterproductive. Cuts to management, admin and support staff are a key reason why the huge increase in clinical staff over recent years has not resulted in substantially more hospital activity

First guest speaker at #BarCouncil this evening is Nick Davies - Programme Director at
@Instituteforgov - setting out the IfG's recent performance tracker analysing the state of public services: instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/pe…

Just caught up with the brilliant piece. Essential reading for anyone interested in public service performance, tech and productivity

Congratulations to Acas for 10 yrs of early conciliation. Over 1.5m claimants to the service and counting. Looking forward to discussion on the next 10 years on 14 May with Kevin Hollinrake MP Shantha David ELA. Contact [email protected] to find out more

Thoughts on civil service unions, Israel/Gaza, Rwanda & international law from Jordan Urban & me

Trade unions are right to demand clarity about civil servants’ legal & professional obligations but should steer clear of wider arguments about govt policy

instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/pcs-ch…