🔗 Share this article

Prime Minister Starmer traveled to north Wales on Thursday to declare the construction of a fresh nuclear energy facility. This is a major policy announcement with both local and national implications. Yet, the PM did not dedicate much time in Wales to advocating answers for the UK's power requirements. Instead, he used the time attempting to draw a line under the Labour leadership briefing row, informing reporters that Downing Street had not undermined the health secretary's goals in recent days.

As such, Sir Keir’s day served as a microcosm of what his premiership has evolved into more generally. Firstly, he wants his administration to be performing, and to be seen to be doing, significant actions. On the other hand, he is incapable to accomplish this because of the manner he – and, to an extent, the nation more generally – now practices political and governmental affairs.

The Prime Minister is unable to transform the political culture single-handedly, but he can take action about his personal involvement in it. The simple truth is that he could run the government's core much more effectively than he currently does. Should he achieve this, he could discover that the country was in less dismay about his administration than it is, and that he was getting his messages across more effectively.

Personnel Problems in Downing Street

A number of the issues in Number 10 are about individuals. The personal dynamics of any No 10 regime are hard to know well from outside. Yet it appears clear that Sir Keir fails to make sound staffing decisions, or stick with them. Perhaps he is too busy. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. But he needs to improve his performance, avoid slow progress or by halves.

• He dithered about assigning the key job of cabinet secretary to a senior official.
• He appointed Sue Gray his top aide, then replaced her with Morgan McSweeney.
• He brought Darren Jones in from the finance ministry as his chief secretary.
• His media advisors have been frequently replaced.
• Political and policy advisers have entered and exited.
• The situation is chaotic.

Systemic Issues at the Heart of Government

Every prime minister devote excessive time overseas and on foreign affairs, areas where Sir Keir ought to assign more tasks, and insufficient time talking to parliamentarians and hearing the public. Premiers also allocate too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir worsens by doing it poorly. Yet leaders cannot express surprise when their politically appointed staff, who tend to be party loyalists or ambitious in politics, cross lines or become the story, as Mr McSweeney has recently.

The biggest issues, however, are structural. It would be beneficial to think that Sir Keir reviewed the Institute for Government’s March 2024 report on reforming the government's central operations. His inability to address these matters last July or since implies he did not. The frequently dismal performance of the Labour administration indicates IfG proposals like restructuring the functions of the central government office and No 10, and separating the jobs of cabinet secretary and civil service head, are currently critical.

The political pre-eminence of prime ministers far outdistances the assistance provided to them. As a result, everything currently suffers, and many tasks are poorly executed or ignored.

This isn't Sir Keir’s sole responsibility. He stands as the victim of past failures along with the architect of current mistakes. But those who hoped Sir Keir might get a grip on the core and take the machinery of government seriously have been disappointed. Sadly, the biggest loser from this shortcoming is Sir Keir himself.