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May and Johnson failed to protect civil servants from Brexit-related attacks, says think tank
UK PMs Theresa May and Boris Johnson failed to defend civil servants whose impartiality was called into question during the Brexit upheaval of the last four years, an investigation has found. According to a report by UK think tank the Institute for Government, former PM May allowed Olly Robbins, her chief Brexit negotiator, to become…
Boris Johnson rose to power thanks to Theresa May’s Brexit errors; now he’s replicating them
Boris Johnson became the UK’s prime minister by attacking Theresa May’s approach to Brexit. But Johnson has already made exactly the same mistakes as his predecessor – so if he is re-elected in December, the next phase of Brexit will be just as tortuous, chaotic and rancorous as the last. By Matt Ross The UK’s…
Brexit round-up: more crazy madness – and a break in the stormclouds
As the UK’s Tory party descended into yet more infighting this week, Parliament started to look for consensus. Having finally lost patience with the government, the House of Commons is trying to forge its own plan – offering an escape route from Britain’s political paralysis. Matt Ross reports In another chaotic week for British politics,…
Opinion: time for Parliament to turn the tables
On Wednesday, UK PM Theresa May argued that parliamentary resistance to her Brexit plan was damaging trust in democracy. But forcing the country to choose between a terrible deal and utter chaos would create much greater harm; Matt Ross argues that MPs should take control, and create a new way forward Chaos, division and uncertainty.…
UK Parliament wins right to avert No Deal on Brexit
The UK’s House of Commons agreed on Wednesday night that if Parliament rejects both PM Theresa May’s planned Brexit deal and the prospect of a ‘No Deal’ exit, MPs will be given a vote on whether to ask for Brexit to be delayed. The agreement came in the form of overwhelming support for an amendment…
Albion through the looking glass: Britain’s nervous breakdown
Magical thinking, perverse incentives and growing anger are pushing the UK ever closer to a No Deal exit from the EU, as the country’s political establishment suffers a bout of collective madness. All is not lost, says Matt Ross – but the risks are growing fast “If I had a world of my own, everything…
Looking past the politics: Britain’s future under the EU withdrawal deal
UK politicians are hopelessly divided over the Withdrawal Agreement. But their furious debate overlooks the most essential question: if it is approved, what happens next? Matt Ross asks former Cabinet secretary Gus O’Donnell – and concludes that the deal would send Britain naked into trade negotiations Four months after the Brexit referendum, former Cabinet secretary…
Whither Brexit? Explaining the UK’s political chaos
An attempt to unseat the prime minister. Deadlock between government and Parliament. A hopelessly fragmented House of Commons. What on earth has happened to Britain’s normally-pragmatic politicians – and where does Brexit go from here? Matt Ross explores the UK’s predicament UK prime minister Theresa May this week survived an attempt by Conservative MPs to…
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Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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