Since being recently surpassed by India, Britain has the world's sixth largest economy. But, one listener asks, how do we square this position with the reality of our crumbling services? And on the subject of government funding, another listener asks: will Birmingham City Council's financial crisis will make Labour more weary of devolving power to local authorities?

Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Wearmouth, and Freddie Hayward, answer listener questions.

Read more from Anoosh on Thurrock Council's bankruptcy and the West Country's disappearing bus routes

Submit a question for You Ask Us:

https://www.newstatesman.com/YouAskUs

Download the app:

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=US

Subscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week:

https://newstatesman.com/podcastoffer

Sign up to our daily politics email:

https://morningcall.substack.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.