Andy Burnham has asked Caroline Simpson, the chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), to become his deputy chief of staff and lead the new No 10 North operation in Manchester, should he become prime minister in three weeks' time.
Simpson's Role in Devolution Drive
Simpson, described as Burnham's "right-hand woman," will oversee the devolution of power and resources across the UK from Manchester. The Guardian understands she will work alongside cabinet ministers and senior civil servants in Whitehall, as well as devolved regions and nations, to drive economic growth nationwide. Burnham has already appointed James Purnell, his former colleague from the Tony Blair era, as his chief of staff, though it is not yet decided if Simpson will be the only deputy.
Career Background
Simpson has spent her entire career in the public sector, primarily in north-west England, for organisations including local government, housing, and regional development agencies. She took over at GMCA in June 2024. A career civil servant who has never worked in national government, she has risen quickly to one of the most powerful roles in local government. Starting her career in the West Midlands, she spent eight years at Cheshire East council leading the economies of Crewe, Macclesfield, and surrounding towns. Only four years ago, she became chief executive of Stockport council, where she was credited with overseeing a £1bn investment in its revived town centre.
Burnham's Vision for No 10 North
In a speech in Manchester on Monday, Burnham confirmed he would set up No 10 North as the "nerve centre of a rewired Britain," arguing that the Westminster system was "broken" and needed a radical devolution of power. The new office would have three clear tasks: increase public ownership of essential utilities such as water, energy, and housing; re-industrialise swathes of the country; and regenerate towns, prioritising places that had been left behind.
Simpson's Reputation and Impact
Simpson has overseen Greater Manchester's £3bn-a-year budget since 2024, putting Burnham's vision of "Manchesterism" into practice. One senior official who worked closely with her said she was "effective and very PR-minded, very slick," adding, "Often I found with the dead hand of local bureaucracy if you ring her things got done." Another official described her rise as "quite meteoric but is good and well respected," though noted she "sometimes goes along with Andy's stuff too easily, rather than pushing back until it's ready and ends up clearing up the mess or trying to make it work."
Potential Challenges
Simpson's departure would leave GMCA searching for a third chief executive in just over two years, coinciding with the 30 July byelection to choose Burnham's successor as mayor, one of the biggest in modern British politics, with 2 million voters. Simpson has said she "fell into" her first public sector job after studying Japanese and business studies at Liverpool John Moores University, and used her language skills to welcome Japanese mayors to Manchester last year.
