Listen "How to succeed as a minister"
Episode Synopsis
Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle are never far away in Westminster. So how should Keir Starmer approach the delicate task of choosing his top team? The prime minister has to strike a balance between ministers’ performance, party management and the government’s policy agenda, while being a minister is a job like no other – there are no regular performance reviews, clear handovers or annual appraisals.
So how can ministers succeed in government and reach the cabinet table? What skills do they need at each rung of the ministerial ladder? How can backbench MPs prepare to become a minister? And how does the prime minister make decisions about who should serve in government?
To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:
Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at the i Paper
Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Rt Hon James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
So how can ministers succeed in government and reach the cabinet table? What skills do they need at each rung of the ministerial ladder? How can backbench MPs prepare to become a minister? And how does the prime minister make decisions about who should serve in government?
To explore these questions and more, we were joined by an expert panel, including:
Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at the i Paper
Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC, former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Rt Hon James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The event was chaired by Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More episodes of the podcast IfG Events
Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government?
06/11/2025
IfG DevoLab #2: How can mayors and strategic authorities secure investment into regional economies?
22/10/2025
Local government reorganisation and public service delivery: What are the options and challenges?
17/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.