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Prime Minister Starmer visited Wales' northern region this past Thursday to declare the building of a new nuclear power station. This represents a major policy announcement with implications at local and countrywide levels. However, the PM did not dedicate extensive time in Wales to advocating answers for the UK's power requirements. Rather, he used the time trying to put an end to the briefing controversy within Labour's leadership, telling reporters that Downing Street had not undermined the health secretary's goals in recent days.

As such, Sir Keir’s day acted as a microcosm of what his premiership has evolved into overall. Firstly, he desires his government to be doing, 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 more generally – now conducts politics and government.

The Prime Minister cannot change the political culture single-handedly, but he is able to take action about his own role in it. The simple truth is that he could run the centre of government far better than he currently does. Should he achieve 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 successfully.

Staffing Issues in No 10

Some of the problems in Downing Street are about individuals. 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 stick with them. Perhaps he is too busy. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. But he needs to up his game, not do things slowly or incompletely.

• He dithered about giving the key job of top civil servant to a senior official.
• He made a former official his chief of staff, then substituted her with a political strategist.
• He brought Darren Jones in from the finance ministry as his deputy.
• His media advisors have chopped and changed.
• Advisors on politics and policy have come and gone.
• The situation is chaotic.

Systemic Issues at the Core of the Administration

Every prime minister spend too much time overseas and on international matters, where Sir Keir should delegate more, and insufficient time conversing with MPs and hearing the citizens. Prime ministers also spend too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir compounds by doing it poorly. Yet leaders cannot express surprise when their politically appointed staff, who tend to be party loyalists or ambitious in politics, cross lines or become the story, as Mr McSweeney has recently.

The most significant problems, however, are structural. It would be beneficial to think that Sir Keir read the a think tank's spring 2024 report on overhauling the centre of government. His failure to address these matters last July or since suggests he did not. The frequently dismal experience of the Labour administration suggests recommendations like reorganizing the functions of the central government office and No 10, and separating the jobs of cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, are now urgent.

The dominant political role of prime ministers far outdistances the support available to them. Consequently, all aspects suffer, and many tasks are poorly executed or neglected.

This isn't Sir Keir’s sole responsibility. He stands as the victim of previous shortcomings as well as the author of present ones. But those who hoped Sir Keir would take control of the centre and prioritize governmental structures have been let down. Sadly, the primary casualty from this shortcoming is Sir Keir personally.