Keir Starmer is under private pressure to appoint an outsider as the new cabinet secretary to replace Simon Case.

Key contenders from outside the civil service include Sharon White, former chair of the John Lewis Partnership, and Minouche Shafik, former president of Columbia University.

Internal candidates also being considered are Tamara Finkelstein from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Jeremy Pocklington from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The recruitment process, which has advanced beyond initial conversations, highlights the desire for reform and diversity in selection.

Sharon White and Minouche Shafik are notable outsiders, but concerns about potential baggage and controversies accompany their potential appointments.

A formal process, involving the Civil Service Commission, is set to begin as Simon Case plans to step down in January.