Key facts
- Andy Burnham has chosen Caroline Simpson, CEO of Greater Manchester combined authority, as his deputy chief of staff.
- Simpson will lead "No 10 North," a new office based in Manchester focused on UK-wide devolution.
- The office aims to increase public ownership of utilities, re-industrialize regions, and regenerate towns.
- James Purnell has been appointed as Burnham's chief of staff.
Andy Burnham has selected Caroline Simpson, the current chief executive of the Greater Manchester combined authority, to serve as his deputy chief of staff and lead the new "No 10 North" office, should he become prime minister. Simpson, who previously worked with Burnham when he was mayor, will be based in Manchester and tasked with overseeing the devolution of power and resources across the United Kingdom.
Simpson, who has spent her career in the public sector, primarily in the north-west of England, took over at GMCA in June 2024. She will collaborate with cabinet ministers and senior civil servants in Whitehall, as well as with devolved regions and nations, to stimulate economic growth nationwide.
Burnham has also appointed James Purnell, a former colleague from the Blair era, as his chief of staff. In a recent speech, Burnham outlined his vision for No 10 North as the "nerve centre of a rewired Britain," arguing that the current Westminster system is "broken" and requires radical devolution. The office's three primary tasks will be to increase public ownership of essential utilities like water, energy, and housing; re-industrialize various parts of the country; and regenerate towns, with a particular focus on areas that have been historically neglected.