She said becoming a political staffer was a “change” for her personally, but said she and the prime minister had decided it was necessary. “I’m really enjoying it,” she said. “It brings an ability to be even more directive and … get things done that I think is absolutely needed with the pace of change that the PM wants.
“The best way to deliver that, I felt and he felt, was to move into a deputy chief of staff role.”
Simpson said Burnham had never discussed the idea of No. 10 North with her as mayor. Recalling her appointment, she added: “It all happened very, very quickly.”
No. 10 North now has around 50 civil servants, said two people with knowledge of the planning, both of whom were granted anonymity to speak frankly. Several are still living out of hotels in Manchester and returning to London or elsewhere on the weekends. The office is expected to expand to up to 150 civil servants.
The office is based out of Heron House, a refurbished 1980s office block in Manchester city center, on a floor previously prepared for the cyber intelligence agency GCHQ. However, this is only a temporary base.
Burnham previously said he wanted to base the office at the Manchester Digital Campus in the city, but this will only be fully open in 2032. No. 10 North is unlikely to stay based at Heron House that long, said one of the two people with knowledge of the planning, so it will be looking for another base in the next few years.