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Prime Minister Starmer traveled to north Wales on Thursday to declare the construction of a fresh nuclear energy facility. This represents a significant policy event with both local and national implications. However, the prime minister did not devote much 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, informing 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 now become more generally. Firstly, he wants his government to be performing, and to be perceived as performing, significant actions. Conversely, he is unable to achieve this due to the way he – and, to an extent, the nation more generally – now practices political and governmental affairs.

The Prime Minister cannot transform the culture of politics single-handedly, but he can take action about his own role in it. The plain fact is that he could run the government's core far better than he does. Should he achieve this, he could discover that the nation was in less dismay about his administration than it currently is, and that he was communicating his points 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. But it seems obvious that Sir Keir fails to make sound staffing decisions, or maintain them. Perhaps he is too busy. Possibly he lacks genuine interest. However, he must to improve his performance, not do things slowly or incompletely.

• He dithered about assigning the crucial role of cabinet secretary to a senior official.
• He made Sue Gray his chief of staff, then replaced her with Morgan McSweeney.
• He recruited a Treasury figure in from the finance ministry as his chief secretary.
• His media advisors have chopped and changed.
• Political and policy advisers have entered and exited.
• The situation is chaotic.

Systemic Issues at the Core of the Administration

Every prime minister spend too much time overseas and on foreign affairs, where Sir Keir should delegate more, and too little conversing with parliamentarians and listening to the citizens. Prime ministers also spend too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir compounds by performing inadequately. Yet leaders cannot claim to be surprised when their politically appointed staff, who tend to be party activists or ambitious in politics, overstep boundaries or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney now has.

The biggest issues, though, are systemic. It would be good to think that Sir Keir read the Institute for Government’s March 2024 report on reforming the centre of government. His failure to grip these issues in the summer or afterward suggests he did not. The often abject performance of the Labour administration indicates IfG proposals like restructuring the functions of the central government office and No 10, and separating the jobs of cabinet secretary and civil service head, are now urgent.

The dominant political role of PMs far outdistances the assistance provided to them. As a result, everything currently suffers, and much is done badly or neglected.

This isn't Sir Keir’s fault alone. He stands as the casualty of previous shortcomings along with the author of current mistakes. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir might get a grip on the core and take the machinery of government seriously have been disappointed. Unfortunately, the primary casualty from this shortcoming is Sir Keir personally.