Ministerial Leadership – A Book Launch with Professor Leighton Andrews
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Professor Leighton Andrews has written a new book, Ministerial Leadership, which is based on research into ministerial practice – specifically an analysis of the interviews with former ministers undertaken by the Institute for Government since 2015 for its Ministers Reflect archive.
The book argues that the relationship between ministers and civil servants has changed significantly in recent decades, as ministers have placed greater emphasis on delivery and implementation since the New Labour years. Experience in government led to Labour ministers internalising the delivery agenda, and this focus was retained in the Coalition government of 2010-15 and by the Conservative governments at least until 2017. The twin pressures of Brexit and Covid then knocked things off course.
Former ministers identified a lack of front-line delivery experience amongst senior civil servants. There are criticisms of the way in which the civil service manages projects. Former ministers argue that delivery and policy cannot be separated. This cuts across the separation of roles between ministers and civil servants.
Join Leighton for this informal book launch, when he will also be joined by Sir Peter Riddell, former Political Editor of the Financial Times, Commissioner for Public Appointments and director of the Institute for Government, to discuss his new publication.
Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3WA