Britain was once regarded as the best-run in the world, but not any more. Contemporary historian Dominic Sandbrook asks if we are now becoming a country that can no longer deliver; are we turning into Slapdash Britain?

Dominic turns his attention to how things could improve.

Can we go back to the old ways: a less presidential style of leadership, stronger advice from the Civil Service and greater parliamentary scrutiny? Or is it time for a radical re-think?

Should ministers be taken from a wider pool of talent? The Civil Service restructured? And at a local level are there less complicated, more customer-friendly ways of doing their business?

Dominic looks to the future with those who have been involved at the heart of government, like Blair's former Chief of Staff Jonathan Powell, top civil servant Michael Bichard, former CBI DG Digby Jones, businessman Gerry Robinson, commentator Harriet Sargeant and professor Anthony King. They give their candid assessments.

He also visits the London Borough of Lewisham, where they are starting to put some radical ideas into practice.

Producer: Glynn Jones
A Jolt production for BBC Radio 4. Show less