Sir Keir Starmer's visit to north Wales on 13 November was meant to showcase his government's commitment to energy security through a new nuclear power station announcement. Instead, the Prime Minister found himself embroiled in yet another damaging briefing row that exposed deeper problems within his administration.
A Government in Disarray
During what should have been a straightforward policy promotion at Coleg Menai, Starmer spent considerable time denying that Number 10 had briefed against the health secretary's ambitions. This incident has become symptomatic of a wider pattern of dysfunction at the heart of government.
The Labour leader's current predicament reflects a fundamental tension in his premiership. While he aims to project an image of a government focused on substantive policy work, the reality of political management constantly undermines these efforts. The machinery of government appears to be failing at the most basic level.
Personnel Problems and Structural Failures
Evidence suggests that Starmer's difficulties stem from both poor personnel choices and systemic structural issues. The Prime Minister has demonstrated a troubling pattern of indecision and frequent changes in his inner circle.
Key appointments have been marked by uncertainty and rapid turnover. Starmer hesitated before appointing Chris Wormald as cabinet secretary, replaced Sue Gray with Morgan McSweeney as chief of staff, and brought Darren Jones from the Treasury as chief secretary. Communications chiefs and political advisers have come and gone with alarming frequency.
These personnel issues are compounded by deeper structural problems within Downing Street. The Institute for Government's March 2024 report highlighted the urgent need for reforming the centre of government, including restructuring the Cabinet Office and Number 10, and separating the roles of cabinet secretary and civil service head.
Broader Political Challenges
Starmer faces criticism for spending too much time on foreign affairs while neglecting domestic engagement with parliamentarians and the public. His media performances have been described as poor, further hampering his ability to communicate government messages effectively.
The Prime Minister cannot claim surprise when political appointees become the story, as happened with Morgan McSweeney following in the footsteps of Dominic Cummings. The culture of politically ambitious advisers crossing lines appears to be continuing unabated.
The fundamental issue remains that the political pre-eminence of prime ministers far exceeds the support structures available to them. This imbalance means that everything suffers, with important work either done poorly or neglected entirely.
The Way Forward
While Starmer inherited some of these problems from previous administrations, he bears responsibility for failing to address them since taking office last July. Those who hoped he would take government machinery seriously have been left disappointed.
The biggest loser in this ongoing failure may well be Starmer himself. Unless he can demonstrate better control over the centre of government and make more stable personnel decisions, his ability to deliver on policy promises will remain severely compromised.
The nuclear power station announcement in Wales should have been a positive story about Britain's energy future. Instead, it became another example of how briefing rows and internal dysfunction are preventing the government from communicating its message effectively to the public.
