Negotiating Government Podcast
Negotient is the expert adviser in managing negotiations between the public and private sectors; we advise clients in both sectors how to get the best results from their negotiations. This podcast explores the strategies and behind-the-scenes mechanics that shape successful negotiations, and the factors that drive the interests of both sides. Our aim is to help those involved in public sector negotiations understand the challenges they face — and how to overcome them to deliver better results for the public.
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Strikes Unpacked: Lessons from Hollywood Actors on the Picket Line
In this episode of Negotiating Government, Negotient Associate Miranda Worthington (former Director of Industrial Relations at the UK Department of Health & Social Care) and Founding Partner, Josh Flax (former Deputy Director of the Federal Mediation Service) unpack one of the most talked‑about labour disputes in recent years, the 2023 SAG‑AFTRA strike.
In this conversation, they use the Hollywood-based strike to explore why rational negotiators can end up embracing mutually damaging strikes, unpacking how cognitive biases like the sunk cost fallacy and stop‑loss bias distort decision‑making under pressure. They also unpack the role of "moves away from the table”, and how SAG‑AFTRA successfully leveraged celebrity visibility to shape public opinion.
Featured on this episode
Joshua Flax
Founding Partner & USA Practice Lead
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Josh is an expert in conflict management, negotiation analysis, and government-to-stakeholder regulatory negotiations.
At the US Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for over 20 years, Josh led mediation teams tackling some of the most difficult public-policy negotiations between government and public stakeholder groups, including national rail negotiations, collective bargaining agreements between employers and unions in multiple sectors, and some of the largest Federal-Tribal negotiations. Josh completed his Federal service in 2023 as one of the two deputy directors leading the agency.
Josh also lectures on negotiation, collective bargaining, mediation, and Indigenous Peoples’ sustainable development at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Business School, MIT, and Columbia University.
Miranda Worthington
Associate
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Miranda is an expert in public policy, strategy and negotiation.
As the Department of Health of Social Care’s Director for NHS Industrial Relations through the NHS strikes from 2022 to 2024, she was government’s lead policy official and chief negotiator, reaching settlements with unions representing striking workforces. Before this, Miranda held senior roles in HM Treasury, Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Education. She has very significant experience in complex and high-profile fiscal policy (such as income tax, welfare reform, and spending reviews). At the Ministry for Housing, she led government programmes related to community regeneration and housing investment.
Miranda excels in building strong teams, and in bringing clarity of thought and sound judgement to help clients solve complex problems.
Previous Episodes
The Budget’s Ripple Effect: Pharma, Energy, Oil & Local Growth?
In this episode of Negotiating Government, John Hall (Negotient Associate and former Treasury official) and David Gauke (Negotient Chair and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury) unpack the November 2025 UK Budget, offering a candid, insider’s perspective on what it really means for private sector leaders negotiating with government.
The conversation explores why, despite a flurry of announcements impacting the private sector, the Budget felt underwhelming for business and lacked a clear growth agenda. David and John discuss the regulatory reforms announced by the Fingleton Review, and their potential significance for other sectors. They also examine sector-specific pressures, from NHS pharmaceuticals to the new Local Growth Fund, and whether “temporary” taxes, such as the Energy Profits Levy can ever really be temporary.Featured on this episode
David Gauke
Chair
John Hall
Associate
How does The Treasury build a Budget?
In this episode of the Negotiating Government podcast, David Gauke (Negotient Chair and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury) and John Hall (Negotient Associate and former senior Treasury official) dissect the central strategic choice facing Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the upcoming Budget. They take an insider’s view of the budget-making process, from the months-long behind-the-scenes negotiations between the Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility, to the last-minute decisions that shape fiscal policy. Drawing on their experiences, Gauke and Hall offer actionable advice on how to engage with government, influence outcomes, and navigate the complex, often opaque, negotiation landscape.Featured on this episode
David Gauke
Chair
John Hall
Associate
Strikes Unpacked: UK and US Perspectives on Industrial Action
In this episode of Negotiating Government, Negotient’s Miranda Worthington and Josh Flax dive deep into the world of strikes and industrial action, comparing the UK and US experiences. Drawing on their backgrounds as a former Director of Industrial Relations (UK Department of Health and Social Care) and a US federal mediator, they explore what defines a strike, the legal and cultural differences between public and private sector actions, and the far-reaching impacts on workers, employers, and the public.Featured on this episode
Miranda Worthington
Associate
Joshua Flax
Founding Partner & USA Practice Lead
The View from Inside Government
Why is a public-private negotiation so different from a private-private one? In this episode of Negotiating Government, Negotient's Chair, former Cabinet Minister David Gauke, is joined by Negotient Senior Associate Miranda Worthington, former Director of Industrial Relations at the Department for Health and Social Care, to explore the unique challenges and dynamics of negotiating with government. The conversation examines what makes Government a very different counterparty - marked by scale, complexity, intense scrutiny, and ever-evolving objectives.Listeners will gain practical insights into:How government’s internal silos and shifting priorities shape negotiations.The impact of public scrutiny, media attention, and political pressures on deal-making.The importance of understanding precedent, fiscal constraints, and the culture of the civil service.Strategies for effective negotiation, including anticipating political shifts, building relationships with officials and political teams, and ensuring your own organisation can deliver.
Whether you’re a public or private sector negotiator, this episode offers a candid look at what it takes to navigate government negotiations successfully.Featured on this episode
David Gauke
Chair
Miranda Worthington
Associate
Behind the Scenes of the US-UK Trade Deal
What really happens in a high-stakes negotiation between Donald Trump and Keir Starmer? In this episode of Negotiating Government, Chris Brown and Josh Flax from Negotient dissect the tactics behind the recent US-UK trade deal—and what it reveals about power, pressure, and process in public-private negotiations. From Trump’s signature “create the problem, sell the cure” strategy to Starmer’s bold decision to go first, this episode unpacks in 15 minutes:How to shift baselines and frame concessions as winsThe power of anchoring, timing, and narrative controlWhy understanding your counterpart’s no-deal scenario is everythingWhat negotiators can learn—even from styles they don’t admire
Whether you're negotiating with government now or just fascinated by the art of the deal, this is a masterclass in real-world strategy, analysed by experts who advise on such deals week in, week out.Featured on this episode
Chris Brown
Founding Partner
Joshua Flax
Founding Partner & USA Practice Lead
The Spending Review 2025: Capital Growth and Financial Credibility
In this episode of Negotiating Government, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke and former Senior Treasury spending official John Hall delve into the 2025 spending review, exploring the government's strategic choices and the challenges they face in balancing fiscal responsibility with urgent public service needs. They discuss the significant increase in capital for defence and green energy; the wider implications for economic growth and public services; whether the Government is really getting the full benefit of its new fiscal rules; and, how the changes to the 'green book' rules against which investment decisions are judged might shift decision making into the future. Plus, should we prepare for the tax burden - already at an all-time post-war high - to get heavier still?Featured on this episode
John Hall
Associate
David Gauke
Chair
Mapping out the Spending Review: what does the Spring Statement tell us about HM Treasury thinking on the Spending Review?
In the inaugural episode of Negotiating Government, the podcast from Negotient, hosts David Gauke (Chair of Negotient and former HM Treasury and Cabinet minister) and John Hall (former HM Treasury Health Spending Team leader and former Department of Health Strategy Director) draw on their extensive backgrounds in Government to reflect on what the Spring Statement means for the approach HM Treasury will take to the Spending Review - and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for those involved in negotiations with the UK public sector.
David and John explore the current state of the UK's public finances, the impact of fiscal rules, the balance between capital and current spending and the importance of innovation and efficiency in public services. They also touch upon the potential impacts of US Government policy both for UK public finances and for Government's plans to create a stable business environment. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the complexities of government negotiations and how to navigate them effectively.Featured on this episode
John Hall
Associate
David Gauke
Chair