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Sir Keir Starmer visited Wales' northern region this past Thursday to reveal the building of a fresh nuclear energy facility. This is a significant policy event with both local and national implications. Yet, the PM did not devote much time in Wales to promoting solutions for the UK's power requirements. Rather, he used the time trying to draw a line under the briefing controversy within Labour's leadership, telling journalists that No 10 had not undermined the health secretary’s ambitions earlier this week.

As such, Sir Keir’s day acted as a small-scale example of what his premiership has now become overall. Firstly, he wants his administration to be doing, and to be perceived as performing, significant actions. On the other hand, he is incapable to accomplish this because of the manner he – and, partly, the country as a whole – now conducts political and governmental affairs.

Sir Keir cannot change the culture of politics single-handedly, but he is able to take action about his personal involvement in it. The simple truth is that he could run the centre of government far better than he does. If he did 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

Some of the problems in Downing Street relate to individuals. The personal dynamics of any No 10 regime are difficult to discern well from outside. Yet it appears clear that Sir Keir fails to make good personnel choices, or stick with them. Perhaps he is too busy. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. However, he must to up his game, avoid slow progress or by halves.

• He hesitated about giving the crucial role of top civil servant to Chris Wormald.
• He made a former official his chief of staff, then replaced her with a political strategist.
• He recruited a Treasury figure in from the Treasury as his deputy.
• His media advisors have chopped and changed.
• Political and policy advisers have entered and exited.
• The situation is chaotic.

Systemic Issues at the Heart of Government

All premiers spend too much time overseas and on international matters, areas where Sir Keir ought to assign more tasks, and too little talking to parliamentarians and listening to the public. Premiers also spend 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 loyalists or ambitious in politics, overstep boundaries or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney has recently.

The biggest issues, however, are systemic. It would be beneficial to believe that Sir Keir reviewed the a think tank's March 2024 study on overhauling the centre of government. His failure to address these matters last July or afterward implies he did not. The frequently dismal performance of Labour’s time in office indicates IfG proposals 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 far outdistances the assistance provided to them. Consequently, all aspects suffer, and much is done badly or neglected.

This is not Sir Keir’s fault alone. He stands as the casualty of previous shortcomings as well as the author of current mistakes. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir would take control of the centre and take the machinery of government seriously have been disappointed. Sadly, the biggest loser from this shortcoming is Sir Keir himself.