Failed State: Why Nothing Works and How We Fix It

Why does nothing work in Britain?

It’s harder than ever to get a GP appointment. Burglaries go unpunished. Rivers are overrun with sewage. Real wages have been stagnant for years, even as the cost of housing rises inexorably. Why is everything going wrong at the same time?

It's easy to point the finger at dysfunctional or even corrupt politicians. But in reality it’s more complicated. Politicians can make things better or worse, but all work within our state institutions. And ours are broken.

In Failed State, Sam Freedman, one of Britain's leading policy experts, offers a devastating analysis of where we’ve gone wrong. Speaking to politicians of all stripes, civil servants and workers on the frontline, this book bursts with insight on the real problems that are so often hidden from the front pages.

'Concise, wise and clear, we can only hope that every member of the new government will read and digest this book' – David Aaronovitch

'Brilliantly timed and frighteningly true. We should listen to what Freedman has to say' – Anthony Seldon