🔗 Share this article

Prime Minister Starmer traveled to Wales' northern region on Thursday to announce the development of a new nuclear power station. This represents a major policy announcement with implications at local and countrywide levels. However, the PM did not devote extensive time in Wales to promoting solutions for the UK's energy needs. Instead, he spent it attempting to draw a line under the briefing controversy within Labour's leadership, informing reporters that Downing Street had not briefed against the health secretary's goals in recent days.

Therefore, Sir Keir’s day acted as a microcosm of what his prime ministership has now become more generally. On the one hand, he wants his administration to be doing, and to be seen to be doing, important things. On the other hand, he is incapable to achieve this due to the manner he – and, to an extent, the nation more generally – now conducts political and governmental affairs.

Sir Keir is unable to change the political culture single-handedly, but he can do something 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. If he did this, he might find that the country was in less despair about his administration than it is, and that he was getting his messages across more effectively.

Staffing Issues in No 10

A number of the issues in Downing Street are about individuals. The personal dynamics of every Downing Street operation are hard to know well from outside. But it seems obvious that Sir Keir does not make sound staffing decisions, or stick with 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 key job of top civil servant to Chris Wormald.
• He appointed Sue Gray his chief of staff, then replaced her with Morgan McSweeney.
• He brought a Treasury figure in from the finance ministry as his deputy.
• His media advisors have chopped and changed.
• Political and policy advisers have come and gone.
• It is a mess.

Systemic Issues at the Heart of Government

Every prime minister spend too much time abroad and on international matters, where Sir Keir should delegate more, and insufficient time talking to parliamentarians and listening to the citizens. Prime ministers also allocate too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir worsens by performing inadequately. Yet leaders cannot claim to be surprised when their political appointees, who are often party activists or ambitious in politics, cross lines or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney now has.

The biggest issues, though, are structural. It would be good to think that Sir Keir reviewed the Institute for Government’s spring 2024 study on reforming the centre of government. His failure to grip these issues last July or afterward implies he did not. The frequently dismal performance of Labour’s time in office indicates IfG proposals like reorganizing the functions of the central government office and No 10, and dividing the positions of cabinet secretary and civil service head, are currently critical.

The political pre-eminence of prime ministers greatly exceeds the assistance provided to them. As a result, all aspects suffer, and many tasks are poorly executed or ignored.

This isn't Sir Keir’s sole responsibility. He stands as the casualty of past failures as well as the author of present ones. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir would take control of the core and prioritize governmental structures have been let down. Sadly, the biggest loser from this failure is Sir Keir himself.