Failed State: Why Britain Doesn't Work and How We Fix It

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Description

Britain feels increasingly broken. It's harder than ever to get a GP appointment. Burglaries go unpunished. Wages have been stagnant for years, even as the cost of housing rises inexorably. There are lots of candidates for blame: Boris Johnson; Rishi Sunak; the last Labour government; Brexit. But it's not really due to any individual. Politicians can make things better or worse, but even the best are constrained by our state institutions. These core foundations - No. 10 Downing Street, the Treasury, Parliament, the Civil Service, local government - were never designed for the job. Once able to adapt to a smaller, less centralized state, they now cannot cope with the big problems we face. Only by digging below the surface, understanding the history and failure of these institutions, can we get a grip on the difficulties facing Britain today. In Failed State, Sam Freedman offers an uncompromising and well-sourced analysis of where we've gone wrong. Speaking to politicians of all stripes, civil servants, workers on the frontline and key thinkers across the world, this book bursts at the seams with insight and data on the real problems we face that are so often hidden from the front pages. The result is a thoughtful manifesto that paves the way for a fairer and more prosperous society.

Reviews

Excellent . . . a persuasive argument brought to life by a generous supply of telling quotes and good stories from insiders, which make it convincing and readable -- The Times
Funny, whipsmart and devastating. Sanity on steroids for our unhinged times -- Emily Maitlis, broadcaster and bestselling author
One of the most astute observers of British politics. Freedman combines an unparalleled understanding of Westminster with a light, easy-to-read style -- Ian Dunt, bestselling author of How Westminster Works . . . And Why It Doesn't
Excellent -- Financial Times
Concise, wise and clear, this is a book that every member of the new government should read and digest -- David Aaronovitch, BBC Radio 4 presenter
Excellent. Fantastic. An exquisite analysis -- The Secret Barrister, bestselling author and campaigner
Brilliantly timed and frighteningly true. We should listen to what Freedman has to say -- Sir Anthony Seldon, bestselling author of Johnson at 10
Brilliant. Clear and compelling reading -- Nigella Lawson, author, cook and journalist
An urgent plea for reform -- The Guardian
I heard it was required reading for new ministers and I concur! Bravo -- Louise Haigh, Secretary for State for Transport, UK Government
Freedmans diagnosis is damning [. . . and] clear-eyed about what solutions are needed -- TLS
An incisive analysis -- The Morning Star

Author Bio

Sam Freedman is a senior fellow at the Institute for Government and a senior adviser to Ark Schools. He writes about policy and politics for numerous outlets including the Financial Times, Sunday Times, Guardian and New Statesman. With his father, he runs 'Comment is Freed', Britain's most popular politics Substack. He has a following of over 150,000 on X/Twitter. He has spent his career working in different policy-focused roles around Westminster, including as an adviser to the leader of the opposition and three years at the Department for Education as a senior policy adviser.