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Prime Minister Starmer traveled to Wales' northern region on Thursday to reveal the construction of a new nuclear power station. This is a significant policy event with implications at local and countrywide levels. However, the PM did not devote extensive time in Wales to advocating answers for the UK's energy needs. Rather, he spent it attempting to draw a line under the briefing controversy within Labour's leadership, telling journalists that No 10 had not undermined the health secretary's goals earlier this week.

Therefore, Sir Keir’s day served as a small-scale example of what his prime ministership has evolved into overall. On the one hand, he desires his administration to be performing, and to be seen to be doing, important things. On the other hand, he is unable to achieve this because of the way he – and, partly, the nation as a whole – now practices politics and government.

The Prime Minister is unable to transform the culture of politics on his own, but he is able to do something about his personal involvement in it. The plain fact is that he could manage the centre of government far better than he does. If he did this, he could discover that the nation was in less despair about his administration than it is, and that he was getting his messages across more effectively.

Personnel Problems in Downing Street

Some of the issues in Downing Street are about personnel. The interpersonal relations 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. Perhaps he is too busy. Perhaps he is not really interested. However, he must to improve his performance, avoid slow progress or by halves.

• He dithered about assigning the crucial role of top civil servant to Chris Wormald.
• He made a former official his top aide, then substituted her with a political strategist.
• He recruited Darren Jones in from the finance ministry as his deputy.
• His media advisors have been frequently replaced.
• Advisors on politics and policy have come and gone.
• The situation is chaotic.

Systemic Issues at the Heart of Government

Every prime minister devote excessive time overseas and on international matters, areas where Sir Keir ought to assign more tasks, and too little talking to parliamentarians and hearing the citizens. Premiers also spend too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir worsens by doing it poorly. But premiers cannot express surprise when their political appointees, who are often party loyalists or ambitious in politics, cross lines or become the focus, as the chief of staff has recently.

The most significant problems, though, are systemic. It would be good to believe that Sir Keir reviewed the Institute for Government’s March 2024 study on reforming the centre of government. His failure to grip these issues in the summer or afterward implies he did not. The frequently dismal performance of the Labour administration indicates recommendations like reorganizing the roles of the central government office and Downing Street, and separating the positions of cabinet secretary and civil service head, are now urgent.

The dominant political role of PMs far outdistances the assistance provided 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 is the victim of previous shortcomings as well as the author of present ones. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir might get a grip on the core and take the machinery of government seriously have been let down. Sadly, the primary casualty from this failure is Sir Keir himself.