GMCA Turmoil: Boss Caroline Simpson 'Effectively Out,' Staff Allege

Staff at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have expressed significant concern regarding the potential departure of their Chief Executive, Caroline Simpson, without her serving a full notice period. Ms. Simpson is slated to take on a prominent role as chief of staff for Andy Burnham's new flagship government office, ‘Number 10 North’, which aims to relocate some Downing Street functions to Manchester.

Andy Burnham, who is also the new Makerfield MP, is reportedly set to assume the position of Prime Minister on Monday, July 20. The M.E.N. previously revealed Mr. Burnham's intention to launch the new Northern office on his very first day in office. This rapid timeline has fueled anxieties among sources within the GMCA that Ms. Simpson, currently in a £240,000-a-year role, may leave abruptly, potentially leaving the organization scrambling to find a replacement.

An anonymous source within the GMCA told the M.E.N. there has been "a lot of anxiety and a lot of conversations behind closed doors" concerning Ms. Simpson's imminent exit. Staffers indicate that Ms. Simpson, who leads both the GMCA and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), is presently utilizing her accrued leave days, with some suggesting she "effectively doesn't work here anymore." Despite this, the former Stockport chief executive, who has a long-standing working relationship with Mr. Burnham, had previously assured staff in a letter that she would "continue to steer the transition to a new Mayor of Greater Manchester over the summer." She has also relinquished her responsibilities as returning officer, a role overseeing the election process, to ensure "absolute focus remains on the Mayoral by-election," with Deputy Chief Executive Andrew Lightfoot reportedly taking over these duties. The GMCA declined to comment on the matter.

The 'Number 10 North' initiative is envisioned as a strategic move to decentralize power from Westminster to the North, serving as the "nerve centre of a rewired Britain." Its core objectives include increasing public ownership of essential utilities, driving the re-industrialization of the country, and attracting crucial investment to struggling towns across the region.

While the new government office is anticipated to be housed in the new civil service building in Ancoats, currently under construction on the former Toys R Us site, this facility is not expected to be completed until 2028. Consequently, Mr. Burnham’s team will need to secure an interim location. Although this temporary site has not been disclosed for security reasons, some speculate it could be Heron House, situated near the town hall and Manchester’s current GCHQ headquarters.