{"podcast":{"title":"IfG Events","slug":"ifg-events-864374","podcast_index_feed_id":864374,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/PMO2793223125","website_url":"https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/986836ea-3272-11ec-8af8-8f1a01cf74d1/image/ifg-events-square-FINAL.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Podmasters","episode_count":399,"summary":"The Labour government has a huge majority in parliament – but Keir Starmer’s administration is also facing an incredibly complex set of policy challenges. So how can the prime minister and his team turn around public service performance? What can chancellor Rachel Reeves do to get the economy growing again? What will mission-driven government actually mean in practice? Who should be making the key decisions in Westminster – and beyond? And what will the appointment of a new cabinet secretary mean for the future direction of the civil service? From reforming how the centre of government works to the battle for the future of the civil service, from making a success of levelling up to achieve net zero goals, IfG EVENTS stimulate fresh thinking and share ideas about how government works – and how it could work better.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-26T22:19:30.228549+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/ifg-events-864374"},"episode":{"title":"Are private members' bills a good way for MPs to decide on difficult policy issues?","slug":"are-private-members-bills-a-good-way-for-mps-to-decide-on-difficult-policy-issues","published_at":"2026-06-04T14:42:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/ifg-events-864374/are-private-members-bills-a-good-way-for-mps-to-decide-on-difficult-policy-issues","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/ifg-events-864374","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR4973537410.mp3","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR4973537410.mp3","summary":"An expert panel drew on lessons from the recent assisted dying bill and other PMBs to consider how backbench MPs should approach complex issues. While historically major social reforms – such as decriminalising homosexuality or legalising abortion – have been introduced through private members’ bills (PMBs), most backbench attempts to legislate that do not begin with government support fail to make it onto the statute book. The Procedure Committee has undertaken extensive work and made proposals for reform, but the deficiencies of the PMB process remain largely hidden from public view. With the attempted passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill shining a spotlight on the PMB process, this Institute for Government event will explore the value and effectiveness of PMBs, and the wider role of backbenchers in shaping policy. Is the current process fit for purpose when it comes to issues that divide opinion and stir public debate? Are there other options that parliament should consider for backbench MPs to raise, debate and legislate on critical social issues? To discuss this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including: Paul Brand, UK Editor at ITV News Dr Daniel Gover, Senior Lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University London Kim Leadbeater MP, sponsor of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Luke Norbury, Parliamentary Counsel at the Cabinet Office The event was chaired by Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices","meta_description":"An expert panel drew on lessons from the recent assisted dying bill and other PMBs to consider how backbench MPs should approach complex issues. While his…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3668,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ifg-events-864374/episodes/are-private-members-bills-a-good-way-for-mps-to-decide-on-difficult-policy-issues/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/ifg-events-864374/are-private-members-bills-a-good-way-for-mps-to-decide-on-difficult-policy-issues.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}