Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns announced his resignation yesterday evening, writing that the Defence Investment Plan 'is neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded'. This brings the total of ministerial resignations from Starmer's govt up to 20. @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
Once again (and yes, there is other news now), I have had some thoughts on WhatsApp in government:
Defence secretary John Healey has just resigned over the govt's Defence Investment Plan, writing that it "falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time". We're getting our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk resignation chart fired back up..
The violent attacks in Belfast have been horrendous. With family there, it’s hard to know what to say.
But @timdurrant.bsky.social and I have been looking at how ministers can lead during and after a crisis - and why it matters that the underlying issues aren’t all the same as the rest of the UK
A short piece from me in Civil Service World this week outlining the key arguments from mine and @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social's new paper on the relationship between ministers and the civil service. We draw on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's fantastic Ministers Reflect archive...
Read below!
John Healey becomes the 19th minister to resign from Keir Starmer's government. Here's a handy recap of all 19 and why they resigned. Read our @instituteforgovernment.org.uk explainer on ministerial resignations for more info!
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mi...
The government announced yesterday that it's launching a democratic engagement fund £2.5m for civil society orgs
Aim - to find out what what interventions support groups with historically low turn out and participation to engage in democracy
Interesting idea! Very small ££ but one to watch
Great piece by @meganbryer.bsky.social on our new paper on ministers & the civil service drawing on @instituteforgovernment.org.uk Ministers Reflect interviews
What do ministers like about the civil service, what do they dislike & how could this relationship work better?
Read more about it 👇
Megan Bryer
A misjudged ministerial response in Northern Ireland risks being ineffective or even counter productive.
"Ministers need to set the conditions for success by communicating their priorities and preferences clearly to officials" www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
"Ministers need to set the conditions for success by communicating their priorities and preferences clearly to officials" www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/...
NEW BLOGPOST: "Ministers launch democratic engagement fund" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/06/09/m... Applications now open for civic society orgs and charities.
Using WhatsApp in government should come with clear responsibilities
The use of WhatsApp is embedded in the way government works, but ministers need to do more to ensure they use it well.
Read the latest comment from @timdurrant.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/usin...
Here are the steps both sides should take to begin repairing the relationship
“The Fund will support practical, locally led approaches that can build trust, remove barriers to participation and deepen people’s connection to democratic life.” Says the written stat…
cambridgetownowl.com
The Mandelson files have again put the use of WhatsApp in government in the spotlight.
