In this IEA Book Club event, Sam Freedman, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, discusses his new book "Failed State: Why Nothing Works and How to Fix It" with IEA Executive Director Tom Clougherty. Freedman, who previously served as a Senior Policy Adviser to Michael Gove and Executive Director of Teach First, presents a stark analysis of Britain's governance crisis.

Freedman argues that decades of increasing centralisation, executive dominance, and media-driven policymaking have created a state that is fundamentally unable to deliver effective governance. Through concrete examples and detailed analysis, he illustrates how the concentration of power in Westminster, combined with the hollowing out of local government and the constant pressure of the 24-hour news cycle, has led to institutional paralysis.

The discussion explores potential solutions, from meaningful devolution of power to reform of Parliament and the civil service. Freedman makes the case that without fundamental changes to how Britain is governed, no government – regardless of political persuasion – will be able to effectively implement its agenda. The conversation also delves into the challenges of institutional reform and the prospects for meaningful change in the current political environment.

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