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What Brexit has meant for the UK civil service so far?
While Britain’s vote to leave the EU has had no immediate impact on Europeans living in the UK or Britons living in other EU nations, the referendum result has led to significant changes to the structure of government already: David Cameron stepped down as prime minister and he was swiftly replaced by Theresa May who…
Finding the exit: the future of UK-EU relations
What happens when an unknown prime minister ventures into the unknown? Matt Ross explores the options facing Britain’s new PM as she contemplates the unprecedented task of extracting an EU member from the union Theresa May, Britain’s new prime minister, is in an odd position. Haven taken over the premiership mid-term, she didn’t write the…
Brexit minister Oliver Letwin leaves government after being branded ‘completely unsuitable’ for the job
Oliver Letwin, the minister in charge of the UK government’s Brexit Unit who was branded as “completely unsuitable” for the job by former cabinet secretary Andrew Turnbull, has left the government. His departure was announced as part of a big ministerial reshuffle in which Britain’s new prime minister Theresa May appointed her new cabinet. Letwin’s Brexit duties will…
Brexit: UK government should try to win back officials from European Commission by offering ‘more than competitive pay’, committee says
Britain’s government should make “particularly strenuous efforts” to win back more than 1,000 UK nationals working for the European Commission by offering “more than competitive pay” to help with Brexit negotiations, the parliamentary select committee on public administration has said. It should focus especially on those EC officials working in key areas such as financial…
A guide to Brexit, part 1: how Britain voted to leave the EU
The UK has just made a monumental decision, leaving the rest of the world amazed, nonplussed and somewhat fearful. Here, Global Government Forum unpicks the implications of the country’s referendum decision to leave the European Union (EU) – explaining how we got here, what happens next, and the likely outcomes of this unprecedented and highly disruptive…
A guide to Brexit, part 2: What’s the process for negotiating a British exit from the EU?
This is part 2 of our guide to Brexit. In this section we examine the ‘Article 50’ process for shaping a British exit, and explore the immediate aftermath of the UK’s momentus referendum. Part 1 asked: how did the UK get here? In part 3, we explain the process for negotiating Brexit. Part 4 asks whether Brexit could…
A guide to Brexit, part 3: Who’ll run the negotiations?
This is part 3 of our guide to Brexit. In this section, we explore who’ll become the next UK prime minister, how they’ll manage events, and the prospects of a general election; and we set out how both sides are building teams of officials to manage this delicate and controversial process. Part 1 asks: how did the UK…
A guide to Brexit, part 4: Is Britain’s departure from the EU inevitable?
This is part 4 of our guide to Brexit, which considers whether a British exit from the EU could be averted. Part 1 examines events leading up to the referendum result; part 2 explores the referendum’s immediate aftermath and the process for negotiating a British exit; and part 3 sets out the people and teams that will…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
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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