Rebecca McKee

This exercise will be conducted in two stages. The first will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May – where anyone who wants to take part can share their views. Alongside an online engagement platform, we will support local conversations and events across the UK. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. In the second stage, which will follow the open engagement, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a ‘People’s Panel for Digital ID’ – an in-depth deliberative engagement process. This group will hear views shared during the open engagement stage, discuss different perspectives, and openly debate areas of disagreement. We will support them to work together to weigh the trade-offs involved, explore common ground and develop shared recommendations for government. This group will not make decisions, but their recommendations – shaped by views shared in the open engagement phase – will help to inform next steps.

Really interesting to see more detail on how the 'people's panel' will be used

2 stage process alongside a public consultation

The government is using a lot of the 'right' language to explain what this is and set reasonable expectations about what it will do - seems well thought through...!

This exercise will be conducted in two stages. The first will involve 8 weeks of open engagement – running from 10 March to 5 May – where anyone who wants to take part can share their views. Alongside an online engagement platform, we will support local conversations and events across the UK. This includes roadshows, roundtables, as well as resources to help communities run their own discussions in ways that work for them. In the second stage, which will follow the open engagement, we will bring together a broadly representative group of 100-120 people from across the UK to take part in a ‘People’s Panel for Digital ID’ – an in-depth deliberative engagement process. This group will hear views shared during the open engagement stage, discuss different perspectives, and openly debate areas of disagreement. We will support them to work together to weigh the trade-offs involved, explore common ground and develop shared recommendations for government. This group will not make decisions, but their recommendations – shaped by views shared in the open engagement phase – will help to inform next steps.

Really interesting to see more detail on how the 'people's panel' will be used

2 stage process alongside a public consultation

The government is using a lot of the 'right' language to explain what this is and set reasonable expectations about what it will do - seems well thought through...!

And if you're interested in seeing what a citizens' assembly can be like for participants there is a really great documentary about the experience of some of those involved in the UK parliament's climate assembly

It's no longer available on BBC but you can watch it on Vimeo

vimeo.com/578471867

Good news for government - there is absolutely LOADS of good practice in the UK, in parliament, local government & devolved government.

This is a really interesting announcement & potential proof of concept for the UK government which has been less keen to try this model of engagement than others

Key to success is how the assembly will inform government decision making. One reason Ireland is effective is there is a clear process for how the government will respond to the assembly and use its findings.

The Jersey assisted dying CA was part of a wider consultation...it can work really well.

Engagement is key both with participants - to get a representative group of people - and with the public to secure buy in.

This isn't about outsourcing decision making, so can the government tell a clear story about why they're using this model and the benefits of it?

A lot relies on what the assembly is 'for' - as part of a wider consultation what is the purpose of the CA? They're most useful when used to work through trade offs of which there are a lot in the digital ID policy space!

Interested to hear more, hopefully later on the scope & question for the CA

I've been involved in several citizens' assemblies inc. parliament's Climate Assembly UK & adult social care assembly

This is the first UK government CA...they can be excellent sources of evidence to inform policy making but the design, engagement, and what happens afterwards right really matters!

Citizens' assemblies | Institute for Government What are citizens' assemblies and how do they work?

Darren Jones is due to announce a citizens' assembly as part of the government's consultation on digital ID cards

What is a citizens' assembly and how have they been used before?

See our handy @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer ⬇️

On our International Women's Day special podcast, Karen Bradley, @elliechowns.bsky.social and @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social reveal the inside story of life as an MP in parliament.

Listen to the full episode 👇🏼 #IWD2026

A job ad for a Marketing Executive at the Institute for Government. Salary: £33,000-40,000 per annum Deadline: Sunday 12 April, 23:00

Work with us! Applications are open to join our Communications team as a Marketing Executive.

You'll be responsible for the day-to-day running of our CRM, delivery of email communications, and helping us to achieve wider audience engagement www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

International Women's Day special: The inside story of life as an MP | Institute for Government Three MPs – Karen Bradley, Beccy Cooper, and Ellie Chowns – head to the IfG podcast studio to explore the challenges of life in parliament.

PODCAST 🎙️ International Women's Day special: The inside story of life as an MP

Dame Karen Bradley MP, Dr Ellie Chowns MP and Dr Beccy Cooper MP join us to explore the challenges, surprises and perhaps frustrations of life in parliament.

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

I absolutely loved listening to this podcast! Such an interesting discussion about what it's like being in parliament from three women with some different experience but lots in common too!

Yes, and I believe the committee heard from staff and the unions. The main problem is that parliament has never taken a holistic view of MPs staff. Between committees/ IPSA/ House authorities things are tweaked but there isn't an overall view of staff inc transparency/ security/ pay / wellbeing

The Standards Committee proposal to redact the names of MPs' staff on the register is back in the news

An unsatisfactory result for transparency especially as it isn't being accompanied by anything else e.g. a full list of all job titles that all MPs employ

But it's a difficult balance...

Josh Simons’ resignation last week has brought Starmer’s govt up to a total of 13 ministerial resignations – the highest number of any recent PM at this stage of their tenure.

Who has been appointed to replace Simons and how many ministers are there now in total…? 🧵

An excellent thread from my colleague @meganbryer.bsky.social ahead of #IWD2026 this Sunday

Lots below including quotes from some of the women who have served as government ministers, reflecting on their time in office

But it's a missed opportunity to better consider how many ministers we actually need, and what they do. In 10 or 20 years time, will a govt need to do the same again, because they've accumulated another dozen unpaid ministers in the Lords? (there are also a few in the Commons...)

More Ministers To Be Paid Under Payroll Reforms Exclusive: The number of paid ministerial roles is to increase as part of new government reforms to be announced on Thursday.

This is interesting - on the one hand, makes sense given how much is expected of ministers in the Lords (who don't have a base salary, just an allowance)

But I do think this is a failing to be more innovative about what ministers are for...

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

A quote from Dan Haile, Senior Economist at the Institute for Government. "The chancellor has stuck to her plan for a low-key spring forecast. The UK has been an outlier in chopping and changing fiscal policy so often, but sticking to one major fiscal event a year gives the government more time and space to make better policy decisions."

"...sticking to one major fiscal event a year gives the government more time and space to make better policy decisions."

@danhaile.bsky.social, IfG senior economist, reacts to today's 'low-key' spring forecast.

More analysis to follow soon www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/spring-forec...

A quote from Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government "The chancellor has resisted the temptation to use this moment to tinker with the tax system. That's the right choice given only three months have passed since the last budget. This will provide more stability for businesses and households."

Rachel Reeves has resisted the temptation to use today's spring forecast to tinker with the tax system.

@jillongovt.bsky.social says the chancellor has made the right choice.

Keep an eye on our spring forecast 2026 page for more analysis soon www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/spring-forec...

A quote from Dan Haile, IfG senior economist "Despite lots of moving parts, the OBR forecast for the UK economy and the public finances hasn’t changed much. However, international events will continue to pose risks which is why the chancellor was right to build up more of a buffer against her fiscal rules last November and to preserve that buffer today."

What did we learn from the OBR's forecast?

@danhaile.bsky.social gives his reaction to the 2026 spring forecast and tells us why the chancellor was right to preserve a buffer against her fiscal rules.

More analysis to follow www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/spring-forec...

Interested in a career in communications? We are looking a Communications Intern to join us on a full-time, fixed-term contract starting in September 2026.

Applications close on Monday 9 March - find out more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Trump vs Iran: Is the UK ready for war? | Institute for Government Sir Alex Younger, former head of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), joins us to discuss what the US strikes on Iran mean for global security.

PODCAST 🎙️ Trump vs Iran: Is the UK ready for war?

Sir Alex Younger, former head of MI6, joins us to discuss what the US strikes on Iran mean for the UK and global security.

PLUS: Spring forecast fall-out? We assess the chancellor's plan www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...

🚨 Results from the 2025 Civil Service People Survey have been published

Last year these showed deteriorating morale at the Office for National Statistics – especially around change management

The 2025 results show a slight further dip in overall morale - but bad results again on change mgmt (1/3)

By-elections | Institute for Government How are by-elections triggered?

Yesterday, the Gorton and Denton by-election saw the Green Party claim victory.

But what is a by-election? What triggers one? How do they work?

Read our explainer to find out more:
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/by...

New comment piece from me and @hcdunlop.bsky.social on independent commissioners.

We say that govts fail to recognise the long-term commitment that comes with establishing commissioners. Commissioners need sufficient resources and ongoing engagement from govt to maintain credibility and succeed.

As parliament returns, another outing for my and @rebeccamckee.bsky.social's comment from last week - if ministers are serious about cleaning up politics and public life, they need to lead from the top

When it comes to ethics in public life, structures are no substitute for judgement | Institute for Government Ministers need to show leadership to drive improvements in public standards.

Ethics in public life can’t be fixed by rules alone.

Our comment, by @timdurrant.bsky.social and @rebeccamckee.bsky.social argues that stronger standards still rely on ministers using good judgement, and knowing when their actions undermine trust.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/ethi...

All roads lead to Romeo | Institute for Government The IfG's experts are in the studio to discuss the tasks ahead for new cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo, ethical standards and local elections U-turns.

PODCAST 🎙️ All roads lead to Romeo

The IfG's experts are in the studio to discuss what new cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo can do to turn the civil service, and perhaps the government, around.

PLUS: Ethics in public life and local elections U-turn www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...