In episode four of this six-part series, we talk about the centre of government – No.10. No.10 is the residence and office of the prime minister – but it’s much more than that too. With a team of special advisers and civil servants keeping an eye on all of government, and potentially interfering in anything that a minister is working on, all ministers need to make sure that they have a good working relationship with No.10. 

So we hear from former ministers and civil servants about their experiences working with No.10, the various factors that inform that relationship, the different players that can help – or hinder – a good working relationship, and which prime minister was uninterested in any regular reporting from his cabinet ministers... 

For more information on how the IfG can support new ministers, check out the IfG Academy or get in touch with us via ifgacademy@instituteforgovernment.org.uk.