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Prime Minister Starmer traveled to north Wales on Thursday to declare the development of a fresh nuclear energy facility. This represents a significant policy event with implications at local and countrywide levels. Yet, the prime minister did not dedicate extensive time in Wales to advocating solutions for the UK's power requirements. Rather, he spent it attempting to draw a line under the Labour leadership briefing row, informing journalists that Downing Street had not briefed against the health secretary's goals in recent days.

As such, Sir Keir’s day acted as a small-scale example of what his premiership has now become 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 as a whole – now conducts politics and government.

The Prime Minister is unable to change the culture of politics on his own, but he can do something about his own role in it. The plain fact 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 dismay about his government than it is, and that he was communicating his points more successfully.

Staffing Issues in Downing Street

A number of the problems in Number 10 are about personnel. The interpersonal relations of every Downing Street operation are difficult to discern well from outside. But it seems obvious that Sir Keir fails to make sound staffing decisions, or maintain them. Maybe he is overly occupied. Perhaps he is not really interested. However, he must to up his game, avoid slow progress or incompletely.

• He dithered about assigning the crucial role of cabinet secretary to a senior official.
• He appointed a former official his chief of staff, then substituted her with a political strategist.
• He brought a Treasury figure in from the finance ministry as his deputy.
• His communications chiefs have been frequently replaced.
• Advisors on politics and policy have come and gone.
• The situation is chaotic.

Structural Challenges at the Core 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 doing media, which Sir Keir worsens by performing inadequately. Yet leaders cannot express surprise when their politically appointed staff, who tend to be party activists or politically ambitious, cross lines or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney now has.

The biggest issues, however, are systemic. It would be beneficial to believe that Sir Keir read the Institute for Government’s spring 2024 study on overhauling the government's central operations. His inability to address these matters in the summer or afterward implies he did not. The often abject experience of the Labour administration indicates recommendations like restructuring the functions of the central government 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, everything currently suffers, and many tasks are poorly executed or ignored.

This isn't Sir Keir’s fault alone. He is the victim of past failures along with the architect of present ones. But those who hoped Sir Keir might get a grip on the centre and prioritize governmental structures have been disappointed. Sadly, the biggest loser from this shortcoming is Sir Keir himself.