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Prime Minister Starmer visited Wales' northern region on Thursday to reveal the development of a new nuclear power station. This is a significant policy event with both local and national implications. Yet, the prime minister did not devote much 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, telling journalists that Downing Street had not undermined the health secretary's goals earlier this week.

Therefore, Sir Keir’s day acted as a small-scale example of what his prime ministership has evolved into overall. On the one hand, he desires his government to be doing, and to be seen to be doing, significant actions. On the other hand, he is unable to achieve this because of the manner he – and, to an extent, the nation more generally – now conducts political and governmental affairs.

The Prime Minister is unable to change the political culture on his own, but he is able to do something about his personal involvement in it. The plain fact is that he could run the centre of government much more effectively than he does. Should he achieve this, he might find that the nation was in less dismay about his administration than it currently is, and that he was communicating his points more successfully.

Staffing Issues in No 10

A number of the problems in Number 10 relate to individuals. The interpersonal relations 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 maintain them. Maybe he is overly occupied. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. But he needs to up his game, not do things slowly or by halves.

• He dithered about giving the crucial role of cabinet secretary to a senior official.
• He made Sue Gray his chief of staff, then substituted her with Morgan McSweeney.
• He recruited a Treasury figure in from the Treasury as his chief secretary.
• His media advisors have been frequently replaced.
• Advisors on politics and policy have entered and exited.
• The situation is chaotic.

Structural Challenges at the Heart of Government

All premiers devote excessive time abroad and on international matters, where Sir Keir should delegate more, and insufficient time conversing with MPs and listening to the citizens. Prime ministers also spend too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir worsens by performing inadequately. But premiers cannot claim to be surprised when their political appointees, who tend to be 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 read 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 the Labour administration suggests recommendations like restructuring the roles of the Cabinet Office and No 10, and separating the jobs of top official and civil service head, are now urgent.

The dominant political role of prime ministers greatly exceeds the support available to them. Consequently, everything currently suffers, and many tasks are poorly executed or ignored.

This isn't Sir Keir’s fault alone. He stands as the victim of past failures as well as the author of current mistakes. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir would take control of the core and prioritize governmental structures have been let down. Sadly, the primary casualty from this failure is Sir Keir himself.