Political Distraction or Policy Failure? Examining Sir Keir Starmer’s Response to the Global IT Crisis Amidst High-Profile Diplomatic Engagements

Did Sir Keir Starmer neglect the IT turmoil due to his post-election celebrations?

At 8:45 AM, the Home Office announced that the government was facing no IT problems. Seriously? This response was overly self-assured and quickly shown to be grossly inaccurate.

Senior political reporter @joncraig

Friday, July 19, 2024, 4:

The honeymoon period has ended. The worldwide IT failure marks the initial major challenge for Sir Keir Starmer.

As the extent of the catastrophe unfolded, the prime minister was on the verge of achieving another diplomatic success by welcoming President Zelenskyy of Ukraine to a cabinet meeting.

Did the presence of the high-profile visitor at Downing Street divert the attention of the Prime Minister and top officials, causing a delayed response? It seems highly likely. Moreover, the situation deteriorated as Leeds experienced widespread fires following an evening of riots.

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At 8:45 a.m., the Home Office declared that the government was facing no problems with their IT systems. However, this statement seemed overly confident and was quickly shown to be quite inaccurate.

From the morning meal forward, the entire country was undeniably experiencing the effects, influencing various aspects of everyday activities.

From widespread disruption at airports due to cancelled flights, to halted train services, a freeze in banking operations, and a crisis in the NHS marked by suspended GP and hospital services along with stopped prescription orders, the impact was felt by nearly everyone in the UK and around the world.

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Initially, there seemed to be disarray and uncertainty in Whitehall regarding which government department was responsible for managing the crisis. The Department of Health denied responsibility, instead directing inquiries to the NHS.

The Cabinet Office denied responsibility, attributing it to the science department. Subsequently, it emerged that the Department of Work and Pensions might halt and withhold benefits payments.

Prior to 10am, the Liberal Democrats called for a COBRA meeting, a request they are frequently mocked for. However, on this occasion, the call appeared to be completely justified.

"Cabinet Office spokesperson Christine Jardine MP emphasized the importance of minimizing interruptions to public transportation and crucial GP appointments, ensuring the public that disruptions will be kept to a minimum,"

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COBRA may seem like an intriguing acronym, but its reality is quite bureaucratic. It represents Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, a specific room located in Whitehall where key government figures including the prime minister, military leaders, intelligence agents, medical authorities, and others convene during crises such as wars, terrorist incidents, or events like the recent COVID pandemic.

The technological turmoil spared no one, not even the legislative body. "As a result of technical difficulties, none of the cash registers in the premises can process card payments," was the notification given to MPs and their staff. "Patrons can make payments with cash."

It's a welcome break for the fresh Members of Parliament who are eager for a discounted bacon sandwich before vying for the attention of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker to deliver their first speech during the debate on the King's Speech.

The impression that the government was taken by surprise was underscored by the lack of a formal statement in the Commons, as well as the absence of any immediate questioning from the Opposition, regarding the escalating crisis.

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During the initial session of the Commons today, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden, a key aide to Sir Keir Starmer, addressed the report from Thursday's COVID inquiry.

Referring to "the entire spectrum of dangers we encounter," he noted, "We are made acutely aware of this today as news breaks of a worldwide IT disruption impacting airlines, doctor's offices, banks, and media companies.

"Predicting the future is challenging. It's impossible to prepare for every potential hazard."

It appears that the government was caught off guard by this cyber crisis. Given that Sir Keir and his team have assumed office just two weeks ago, the responsibility largely falls on the shoulders of the former Conservative government.

Politics is a tough business, and many of those affected by the disruptions at airports, train stations, banks, or healthcare services are likely to be unsympathetic and inclined to hold the present administration responsible.

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Mr. McFadden informed members of Parliament, "I am set to head a comprehensive evaluation of our country's preparedness for various threats confronting the UK. I will also preside over a special cabinet committee focused on resilience to supervise this initiative."

It's straight out of Yes, Minister! Picture Whitehall's Sir Humphrey Appleby suggesting to the bumbling cabinet minister Jim Hacker a way to handle a crisis: "Form a committee, minister!"

Subsequently, Mr. McFadden stated, "I am actively communicating with the groups managing our reaction via the COBRA response mechanism." Ah, COBRA! Finally!

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Actually, it turns out that the COBRA meetings were only attended by civil servants and other officials, rather than ministers. This revelation is unlikely to appease the demanding Liberal Democrats who are keen on COBRA involvement.

Science Minister Peter Kyle stated, "Government agencies are collaborating closely to grasp the details of today's egregious acts and to react accordingly and promptly."

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Number 10 confirmed that a COBRA meeting involving officials, but not ministers, had occurred. They noted that the Prime Minister was unable to preside over the meeting due to his discussions with President Zelenskyy followed by a cabinet meeting.

Certainly, that's a reasonable point. However, it appears that Zelenskyy's visit, significant and historic though it may have been, shifted the focus away from the escalating cyber crisis at Number 10. The timing was rather inopportune and unfortunate for the Prime Minister.

To date, Prime Minister Sir Keir has benefited from considerable fortune. Rishi Sunak's ill-fated choice to schedule the election for July 4th provided Sir Keir with a significant chance to leave his mark during his initial two weeks in office.

A prominent NATO meeting in Washington, coupled with leading the significant European forum, the European Political Community, at the majestic Blenheim, swiftly elevated his status to a global prominence within just a few days.

It's no surprise that his popularity has increased since he became prime minister. However, his fortunate streak was abruptly halted by the IT crisis.

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Harold Macmillan once famously stated that the greatest challenge for a statesman was "events, dear boy, events," while Margaret Thatcher notably remarked that in politics, "the unexpected always happens."

As he gains more experience in his role, Sir Keir will aim to be more adept at handling unforeseen emergencies in the future.

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