🔗 Share this article

Prime Minister Starmer visited Wales' northern region this past Thursday to announce the construction of a new nuclear power station. This is a significant policy event with implications at local and countrywide levels. However, the prime minister did not dedicate extensive time in Wales to promoting solutions for the UK's power requirements. Instead, he used the time trying to draw a line under the Labour leadership briefing row, telling reporters that Downing Street had not undermined the health secretary’s ambitions in recent days.

Therefore, Sir Keir’s day acted as a microcosm of what his premiership has now become more generally. Firstly, he desires his government to be performing, and to be seen to be doing, important things. On the other hand, he is incapable to accomplish this because of the manner he – and, partly, the nation more generally – now conducts political and governmental affairs.

The Prime Minister cannot change the culture of politics on his own, but he is able to take action about his own role in it. The plain fact is that he could manage the government's core far better than he currently does. If he did this, he might find that the country was in less despair about his government than it currently is, and that he was getting his messages across more effectively.

Personnel Problems in No 10

A number of the problems in Downing Street relate to individuals. The personal dynamics of every Downing Street operation are hard to know well from outside. But it seems obvious that Sir Keir fails to make sound staffing decisions, or maintain them. Maybe he is overly occupied. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. But he needs to up his game, avoid slow progress or by halves.

• He dithered about assigning the crucial role of cabinet secretary to Chris Wormald.
• He made a former official his top aide, then substituted her with Morgan McSweeney.
• He brought Darren Jones in from the finance ministry as his deputy.
• His media advisors have chopped and changed.
• Political and policy advisers have entered and exited.
• It is a mess.

Systemic Issues at the Heart of Government

Every prime minister spend too much time abroad and on international matters, areas where Sir Keir ought to assign more tasks, and insufficient time talking to parliamentarians and hearing the public. Prime ministers also spend too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir compounds by performing inadequately. But premiers cannot express surprise when their political appointees, who are often party activists or ambitious in politics, overstep boundaries or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney now has.

The biggest issues, though, are structural. It would be beneficial to believe that Sir Keir read the Institute for Government’s March 2024 study on reforming the government's central operations. His failure to address these matters last July or afterward implies he did not. The often abject experience of Labour’s time in office suggests recommendations like reorganizing the roles of the Cabinet Office and Downing Street, and dividing the jobs of cabinet secretary and civil service head, are currently critical.

The dominant political role of PMs greatly exceeds the support available to them. As a result, all aspects suffer, and much is done badly or ignored.

This isn't Sir Keir’s fault alone. He is the casualty of past failures along with the architect of current mistakes. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir might get a grip on the core and take the machinery of government seriously have been disappointed. Sadly, the primary casualty from this failure is Sir Keir personally.