Ancient cultures often chose their leader and gave them unbridled power of life and death. But if the crops failed the leader was killed. Are voters still in thrall to the same fantasy believing each new leader will work miracles? Do we demand the impossible or are our leaders simply incompetent?

Outspoken columnists Polly Toynbee and David Aaronovitch and journalist John Sweeney put our chiefs on trial. HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur hosts.

From the Institute of Art and Ideas collection.