The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #50 Can Place-Based Experiments Fix Broken Politics? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Polly Mackenzie – public policy thinker, former senior government adviser 🔍 Episode summary Can devolution do more than simply move power around? Could it fundamentally change how Britain solves problems? In this episode, Richard Freeman speaks with one of Britain's leading public policy thinkers, Polly Mackenzie, about why many of today's biggest challenges cannot be solved by traditional government structures alone. Drawing on experience inside Whitehall, think tanks, universities and social innovation, Polly argues that Britain's institutions have become too slow, too fragmented and too risk-averse to deal with modern challenges. Instead, she makes the case for a new culture of place-based experimentation, where local leaders are trusted to test ideas, learn quickly and build stronger collaboration across public services. Against the backdrop of Sussex's emerging devolution settlement, the conversation explores whether a future mayoral authority could become a laboratory for more agile government, bringing together health, housing, education, policing and economic development around shared local outcomes rather than departmental silos. Along the way they discuss democratic frustration, state capacity, local leadership, innovation, public sector culture and why solving complex problems often depends less on finding new ideas than creating better conditions for people to work together. --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Sussex Intelligence Unit, a new independent research platform from the team behind Sussex And The City. Sussex is changing. Devolution is reshaping how major decisions and major investment get made, but without the right evidence, how can it deliver what our communities need? The Sussex Intelligence Unit answers that challenge. It's the first independent cross-sector platform to look at growth, infrastructure, governance, and belonging across East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove. New data, fresh analysis, evidence-led insight designed to put businesses, voluntary sector organisations, and policy makers ahead of what's next, because the decisions made today will shape Sussex for a generation. For the intelligence you need, visit www.sussexintelligence.com --- 🎯 In this episode Why frustration has become Britain's defining political emotion What Polly means by being a 'policy entrepreneur' Why many public problems cut across government departments How devolution could strengthen state capacity The leadership skills modern public services increasingly need Why collaboration matters more than organisational structures Fiscal devolution and the future of English mayors Why experimentation should become part of public service culture The role of 'Test, Learn and Grow' in government reform Whether Sussex could become a national model for place-based innovation 🧠 Key themes Modern problems require joined-up government Challenges including housing, chronic health conditions, youth unemployment and public safety span multiple organisations, making traditional departmental structures increasingly ineffective. Devolution is about more than governance Done well, devolution creates opportunities for places to coordinate services, build stronger partnerships and make decisions closer to the communities they affect. Leadership is becoming more relational Future public leaders will need to convene organisations, build trust and create space for collaboration, rather than simply manage hierarchical systems. Innovation depends on experimentation Public institutions often reward certainty over curiosity. Polly argues that genuine improvement requires permission to test ideas, learn from failure and continuously adapt. Place creates better policy Local government can become a platform for solving complex problems because people, services and institutions are physically closer together and better able to collaborate. Sussex has an unusual opportunity With a new strategic authority being created alongside local government reorganisation, Sussex has a chance not simply to redesign governance, but to rethink how public services innovate and work together. 💬 What Polly says "The dominant emotion of our time is frustration." "There are very rarely new ideas. It's the patient, diligent work of getting things done that matters." "Freedom to succeed is the same as freedom to fail." "If everybody is constantly trying to make things five per cent better, that's transformative." "Entrepreneurial tinkering never gets too tidy." 🧠 Why this matters for Sussex As Sussex prepares for an elected mayor and a new Strategic Authority, there is an opportunity to think differently about how public services are designed. Rather than simply creating another layer of governance, Polly argues that devolution should enable places to become more experimental, bringing together organisations around shared local challenges, giving leaders permission to innovate and creating cultures where learning is valued as highly as certainty. For Sussex, success may depend less on constitutional reform than on whether local institutions are prepared to collaborate, experiment and embrace a more entrepreneurial approach to public leadership. 👤 About Polly Mackenzie Polly Mackenzie is one of Britain's best-known public policy thinkers. She served as Director of Policy to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg during the 2010-2015 UK Coalition Government, playing a significant role during the first wave of English devolution. She later became Chief Executive of the think tank Demos, co-founded the Women's Equality Party, helped establish Martin Lewis's Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, and served as Chief Social Purpose Officer at the University of the Arts London. Today she writes the influential How To Run A Country blog and is a regular commentator on British politics, democracy, public sector reform and institutional change. 🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Polly Mackenzie Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue 📣 Get involved 👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events 👉 https://sussexintelligence.com — research, insight and analysis on Sussex's future
