Institute for Government
Westminster-based think tank focused on improving UK government effectiveness and accountability
Last refreshed: 10 April 2026
Why does the IfG count 4,851 English council seats when others count 5,013?
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- What is the Institute for Government?
- An independent think tank founded in 2008 that analyses UK Government effectiveness, policy and administration. Funded mainly by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
- Why does the IfG's English council seat count differ from the BBC's?
- The IfG counts 4,851 seats across 134 authorities, excluding the 162 Surrey shadow council seats. The BBC and Democracy Club count 5,013 across 136 authorities, including Surrey.
- What did the Institute for Government say about the election postponement?
- The IfG characterised MHCLG's handling of local election postponements and subsequent reversal as 'a government fiasco'.
- When was the Institute for Government founded?
- 2008. Based in Westminster, primarily funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
Background
The Institute for Government (IfG) is an independent, non-partisan think tank based in London that analyses UK central government, Parliament, and public administration. Founded in 2008, it is funded primarily by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. The IfG publishes research on government effectiveness, tracks ministerial changes, and provides rapid analysis of Major policy decisions. In the context of the 2026 elections, the IfG has been the primary source for the 4,851 English council seat figure — which deliberately excludes the 162 Surrey shadow council seats on the grounds that those councillors are being elected to authorities not yet legally constituted.
The IfG characterised the MHCLG's handling of local election postponements as "a government fiasco", tracking the reversal from planned postponements to reinstatement. Its seat count of 4,851 across 134 authorities differs from the Democracy Club figure of 5,013 across 136 authorities by exactly 162 — the Surrey shadow seat total. The gap reflects an editorial judgement about whether electing shadow councillors to legally non-existent councils counts as a conventional local election.
The IfG's role in 2026 extends beyond data provision: its "fiasco" characterisation has shaped how the postponement episode is treated in parliamentary debate and media coverage. For readers trying to assess government competence ahead of the elections, the IfG is the principal independent source that has tracked the full sequence of ministerial decisions and reversals in one place.