🔗 Share this article

Prime Minister Starmer traveled to north Wales this past Thursday to declare the construction of a new nuclear power station. This represents a significant policy event with implications at local and countrywide levels. However, the PM did not dedicate much time in Wales to promoting answers for the UK's energy needs. Instead, he used the time attempting to put an end to the Labour leadership briefing row, telling reporters that No 10 had not undermined the health secretary’s ambitions earlier this week.

Therefore, Sir Keir’s day acted as a microcosm of what his prime ministership has evolved into overall. Firstly, he desires his government to be performing, and to be perceived as performing, important things. Conversely, he is incapable to achieve this because of the manner he – and, to an extent, the nation more generally – now conducts political and governmental affairs.

Sir Keir is unable to change the culture of politics single-handedly, but he is able to take action about his own role in it. The simple truth is that he could manage the centre of government much more effectively than he currently does. Should he achieve this, he might find that the country was in less dismay about his government than it is, and that he was getting his messages across more effectively.

Personnel Problems in Downing Street

Some of the issues in Number 10 are about individuals. The personal dynamics of every Downing Street operation are difficult to discern well from outside. Yet it appears clear that Sir Keir does not make sound staffing decisions, or maintain them. Maybe he is overly occupied. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. But he needs to improve his performance, avoid slow progress or incompletely.

• He dithered about assigning the crucial role of top civil servant to Chris Wormald.
• He appointed Sue Gray his top aide, then replaced her with Morgan McSweeney.
• He brought a Treasury figure in from the Treasury as his chief secretary.
• His communications chiefs have been frequently replaced.
• Political and policy advisers have entered and exited.
• The situation is chaotic.

Systemic Issues at the Core of the Administration

Every prime minister spend too much time overseas and on foreign affairs, areas where Sir Keir ought to assign more tasks, and insufficient time conversing with parliamentarians and hearing the citizens. Prime ministers also spend too much time doing media, which Sir Keir worsens by performing inadequately. Yet leaders cannot claim to be surprised when their politically appointed staff, who tend to be party activists or politically ambitious, overstep boundaries or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney has recently.

The most significant problems, however, are structural. It would be beneficial to think that Sir Keir reviewed the a think tank's spring 2024 report on overhauling the government's central operations. His failure to address these matters last July or afterward suggests he did not. The frequently dismal experience of the Labour administration indicates recommendations like reorganizing the functions of the Cabinet Office and No 10, and dividing the jobs of top official and head of the civil service, are currently critical.

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

This is not Sir Keir’s fault alone. He stands as the casualty of previous shortcomings along with the author of present ones. But those who hoped Sir Keir might get a grip on the centre and prioritize governmental structures have been disappointed. Unfortunately, the biggest loser from this shortcoming is Sir Keir personally.