Keir Starmer’s top team is changing fast after three key advisers left. Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff focused on working-class voters, and Tim Allan, the communications director seen as a Blairite, have stepped down. This has raised hopes among Labour’s soft left for a shift in policy. Starmer also plans to replace Chris Wormald as cabinet secretary. Antonia Romeo, Home Office permanent secretary, is the frontrunner to take up the role. Others considered include economic adviser Minouche Shafik and government director Louise Casey. There are two big camps competing for influence. One group wants Starmer to be more authentic—pro-EU, internationalist, less tough on immigration, and more radical on net zero and the economy. This would align with attorney general Richard Hermer and appeal to left-leaning voters. The other group pushes McSweeney’s plan: focus on cost of living, appeal to swing voters worried about immigration and Reform Party, and rely on leftwing voters to return closer to the election. Downing Street insiders say changing the cabinet secretary alone won’t fix issues, calling the office “completely dysfunctional.” There is talk of spreading leadership roles instead of relying on one dominant figure. A new “chief executive” role might oversee government delivery while others manage politics. In the meantime, Starmer has named two co-chiefs of staff, Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, as a cautious stopgap. They are seen as capable but low-profile, helping Starmer avoid distractions from media speculation. Other names in the mix for senior roles include Amy Richards, Starmer’s political director, and Varun Chandra, business adviser. For communications, Starmer may bring back Steph Driver, a respected calm hand who knows him well. Meanwhile, Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, is gaining influence in Whitehall without the official chief of staff title. Labour MPs want Starmer to unify the cabinet and party to present a strong team. An insider said, "You need the cabinet to feel they are all part of the same project and it should be the prime minister that should bind them together and narrate that story." The call is for Starmer to spend more time storytelling and facing the public rather than only focusing on policy.