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Number 10 Downing St Fails to Be Fit for Purpose
Sir Keir Starmer traveled to north Wales on Thursday to declare the construction of a new nuclear power station. This is a major policy announcement with implications at local and countrywide levels. However, the prime minister did not dedicate extensive time in Wales to advocating answers for the UK's energy needs. Instead, he used the time trying to draw a line under the Labour leadership briefing row, informing journalists that No 10 had not briefed against 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 seen to be doing, significant actions. On the other hand, he is unable to accomplish this due to the way he – and, to an extent, the nation more generally – now conducts politics and government.
The Prime Minister is unable to change the political culture single-handedly, but he is able to do something about his personal involvement in it. The plain fact is that he could manage the government's core far better than he currently does. If he did this, he might find that the country was in less despair about his government than it is, and that he was getting his messages across more effectively.
Staffing Issues in No 10
A number of the problems in Downing Street relate to personnel. The personal dynamics of every Downing Street operation are hard to know well from outside. Yet it appears clear that Sir Keir does not make good personnel choices, or stick with them. Perhaps he is too busy. Perhaps he is not really interested. But he needs to improve his performance, avoid slow progress or incompletely.
- He dithered about giving the crucial role of top civil servant to a senior official.
- He made Sue Gray his top aide, then replaced 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 entered and exited.
- It is a mess.
Systemic Issues at the Core of Government
Every prime minister devote excessive time abroad and on foreign affairs, areas where Sir Keir ought to assign more tasks, and too little talking to MPs and listening to the public. Prime ministers also spend too much time engaging with the press, which Sir Keir compounds by performing inadequately. But premiers cannot claim to be surprised when their politically appointed staff, who tend to be party activists or politically ambitious, cross lines or become the focus, as Mr McSweeney has recently.
The most significant problems, however, are systemic. It would be beneficial to think that Sir Keir read the a think tank's March 2024 study on reforming the centre of government. His inability to grip these issues in the summer or since suggests he did not. The often abject experience of the Labour administration suggests recommendations like restructuring the functions of the central government office and No 10, and separating the positions of cabinet secretary and civil service head, are now urgent.
The dominant political role of prime ministers far outdistances the support available to them. Consequently, everything currently suffers, and much is done badly or neglected.
This is not Sir Keir’s sole responsibility. He is the casualty of previous shortcomings as well as the author of current mistakes. Yet individuals who expected Sir Keir might get a grip on the centre and take the machinery of government seriously have been disappointed. Sadly, the primary casualty from this shortcoming is Sir Keir himself.
Clarence Scott
Elara is a passionate esports journalist with over a decade of experience covering major gaming events and trends.
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