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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jian" data-source="post: 9821652" data-attributes="member: 78087">My fourth book of the week is Failed State by Sam Freedman, which is an absolutely outstanding analysis of the entrenched and worsening problems with British government over the last four decades or so. It’s more detailed and insightful than How Westminster Works by Ian Dunt (mostly about Parliament) and Why We Get The Wrong Politicians by Isabel Hardman (mostly about MPs), but is a fine companion piece to both and maybe one to read afterwards; all three are excellent.Freedman is a former civil servant (Education under Gove) and avowed policy wonk, and diagnoses the main issues as over-centralisation (especially a lack of devolution within England, and a lack of power within Parliament), a lack of long-term capacity (established policy and implementation units; civil service capacity, independence, and expertise; funding, independence, and power in local authorities), and a lack of incentive to implement much-needed reforms aimed at solving these issues. I also think these are exactly the problems with the NHS (I’d also highlight a distinct lack of experienced staff like me since we’ve all quit) and I think he’s likely to be correct about this too. Freedman argues his case well with plenty of examples (including a detailed analysis of what his team and he got wrong in Education). Highly recommended if you like that sort of thing.(I appreciated the insight that Yes Minister, entertaining as it was, was basically Thatcherite propaganda and hopelessly out of date about the civil service and government by the time it aired. The Thick of It was apparently much more accurate.)</blockquote>

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