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Sir Keir Starmer traveled to north Wales on Thursday to declare the development of a new nuclear power station. This is a major policy announcement with both local and national implications. However, the prime minister did not dedicate much time in Wales to promoting solutions for the UK's power requirements. Rather, he used the time 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 earlier this week.

Therefore, Sir Keir’s day served as a microcosm of what his premiership has now become more generally. Firstly, he desires his government to be performing, and to be seen to be doing, important things. Conversely, he is unable to achieve this due to the way he – and, partly, the country as a whole – now practices political and governmental affairs.

The Prime Minister cannot transform the culture of politics on his own, but he can take action about his personal involvement in it. The simple truth is that he could manage the government's core far better than he currently does. If he did 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 are about individuals. The interpersonal relations of any No 10 regime are hard to know accurately from the exterior. But it seems obvious that Sir Keir does not make good personnel choices, or maintain them. Perhaps he is too busy. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. However, he must to improve his performance, avoid slow progress or by halves.

• He dithered about giving the key job of top civil servant to a senior official.
• He made a former official his top aide, then replaced her with a political strategist.
• He recruited Darren Jones in from the finance ministry as his chief secretary.
• His communications chiefs have been frequently replaced.
• Advisors on politics and policy have entered and exited.
• The situation is chaotic.

Systemic Issues at the Heart of the Administration

All premiers devote excessive time overseas and on international matters, areas where Sir Keir ought to assign more tasks, and insufficient time conversing with MPs and listening to the public. Premiers also allocate too much time doing media, which Sir Keir worsens by doing it poorly. But premiers cannot claim to be surprised when their politically appointed staff, who tend to be party activists or ambitious in politics, cross lines or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney now has.

The biggest issues, though, are systemic. It would be beneficial to think that Sir Keir reviewed the Institute for Government’s March 2024 report on overhauling the centre of government. His failure to address these matters in the summer or afterward suggests he did not. The often abject performance of the Labour administration suggests recommendations like reorganizing the functions of the central government office and No 10, and dividing the jobs of top official and head of the civil service, are now urgent.

The dominant political role of prime ministers greatly exceeds the assistance provided 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 past failures along with the architect of present ones. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir might get a grip on the core and take the machinery of government seriously have been let down. Unfortunately, the biggest loser from this shortcoming is Sir Keir personally.