Crises are among the greatest challenges a minister will face while in office. The minister in charge of the response will have to get to grips with a complex and rapidly developing situation, make high-stakes decisions about the government’s response, and communicate these decisions confidently to the public and other key audiences. However, ministers often struggle to find the time to reflect on how they respond to them effectively. 

Drawing on studies of successful crisis response, and interviews with former United Kingdom ministers and officials, this report looks at how ministers can lead effective responses to crises as part of the wider system. It sets out the key leadership roles ministers play during a crisis, and what they can do to prepare for, and learn from, crises.

The report is accompanied by a 'how-to' guide.