BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking (@BBCFreeThinking) explores the idea of the modern state. What should be the ideal size and role of the state in the 21st century? 

Over 75 years ago, the publication of the Beveridge Report heralded the founding of the post-war welfare state, and in 2018 the NHS will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Yet now the state can seem like an outdated concept. Both Right and Left champion localism, empowerment and autonomy. So what should the modern state do?

Julia Black is Pro Director and Professor of Law, LSE. She has advised policy makers and consumer bodies on institutional design and regulatory policy.

Simone Finn is a Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords. She is a former government adviser on industrial relations, efficiency and civil service reform.

Polly Toynbee (@pollytoynbee) is a Guardian columnist and author of several books including Dismembered: How the Attack on the State Harms Us All.

David Willetts is former Conservative Minister and Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation.

Adrian Wooldridge (@adwooldridge) is Political Editor of the Economist and writes the Bagehot column, an analysis of British life and politics, in the tradition of Walter Bagehot, the Economist’s 19th century editor.

Anne McElvoy (@annemcelvoy) is Senior Editor at The Economist,  a presenter of BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking  and BBC Radio 4 Moral Maze,  and a London Evening Standard columnist.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSEBeveridge

This event is taking place in the run up to the LSE Festival: Beveridge 2.0, Monday 19 to Saturday 24 February 2018: a series of events rethinking the welfare state for the 21st century and the global context. 

Free Thinking will be broadcast 10pm BBC Radio 3 on Tuesday 27 February and downloadable as an Arts and Ideas podcast.