Andy Burnham has asked Caroline Simpson, the chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), to serve as his deputy chief of staff and lead the new No 10 North operation in Manchester, should he become prime minister in three weeks' time, as widely expected.
Simpson to oversee devolution of power
Simpson, described as Burnham's 'right-hand woman', will be based in Manchester and tasked with overseeing the devolution of power and resources across the UK, a key promise of Burnham's campaign to transform the country. According to sources, 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. It remains unclear whether Simpson will be the only deputy chief of staff.
Career background
Simpson has spent her entire career in the public sector, primarily in north-west England, working for local government, housing, and regional development agencies. She became CEO of GMCA in June 2024, overseeing a £3bn annual budget and implementing Burnham's vision of 'Manchesterism'. Previously, she served as chief executive of Stockport council, where she oversaw a £1bn investment in the town centre's revival. She also spent eight years at Cheshire East council, leading the economies of Crewe, Macclesfield, and surrounding towns.
One senior official who worked closely with Simpson described her as 'effective and very PR-minded, very slick', adding that 'often I found with the dead hand of local bureaucracy if you ring her things got done.' Another official noted her 'quite meteoric rise but is good and well respected,' though they cautioned that 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.'
No 10 North vision
In a speech in Manchester on Monday, Burnham confirmed he would establish No 10 North as the 'nerve centre of a rewired Britain,' arguing that the Westminster system was 'broken' and required radical devolution. The office has three clear tasks: increasing public ownership of essential utilities such as water, energy, and housing; re-industrialising regions; and regenerating towns that have been left behind.
Simpson's departure would leave GMCA searching for its third chief executive in just over two years, coinciding with a major by-election on 30 July, where 2 million voters will choose Burnham's successor as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Simpson studied Japanese and business studies at Liverpool John Moores University and has said she 'fell into' her first public sector job. She used her language skills last year when welcoming Japanese mayors to Manchester.
