Certainly! Here’s a rewritten version of the article:
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It’s not as though Keir Starmer finds himself lacking tasks to attend to.
His resounding election win in July came with a bold promise: to rebuild Britain after 14 turbulent years under Conservative rule. Those years were marked by the chaos of Brexit, two referendums, five different prime ministers, a pandemic, the war in Ukraine, soaring immigration, an overwhelmed National Health Service, a self-inflicted market crisis, and relentless inflation.
However, as Starmer and his team settled into Downing Street, they quickly realized just how much of the prime minister’s time is consumed by diplomatic obligations. This adjustment proved challenging, in part due to a lack of preparation by Starmer’s former chief of staff, Sue Gray. “There was no plan,” admitted one government aide, reflecting on the transition into power.
Enter Morgan McSweeney, the architect of Labour’s election triumph. Replacing Gray in October, McSweeney has brought much-needed discipline and direction to the government. He has charted a clear strategic course for No. 10, allowing Starmer to focus on the growing array of international crises. To maintain stability, McSweeney himself largely remains in London, opting not to travel frequently with the prime minister. This is partly because Starmer’s government has a tendency to veer off-track when McSweeney isn’t around.
To balance the competing demands of domestic and international affairs, Downing Street has reinforced Starmer’s team with experienced hands, particularly in foreign policy. For example, when McSweeney sought advice from former officials upon taking his role, he was so impressed by Jonathan Powell — one of Tony Blair’s top advisers — that Powell was brought in as the new national security adviser.
Starmer has also tapped into Labour’s past electoral successes, selecting Peter Mandelson — a key architect of Blair-era victories — to serve as Britain’s next ambassador to the United States.
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