As Brexit and the Covid-19 crisis have both tested the institutions and systems of government to the UK to the limit, the last Cabinet Secretary, Lord Mark Sedwill reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of the Whitehall model, and considers where Britain’s state capacity might be improved.
He is joined by Baroness Sally Morgan, Labour Life peer and Master of Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, and Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, to reflect on where and how the structures might be improved.
Professor Michael Kenny, Director, Bennett Institute for Public Policy, chairs the conversation which addresses civil service reform, changing internal cultures and behaviours, the challenges of Covid-19 and devolution, incentives, and what is being done.