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Burnham Hands UK Economic Growth Role to 'Yes Man' Behind FAILED Northern Plan.

by Raheem J. Kassam

Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently handed responsibility for driving Britain’s economic growth to Number 10 North, an operation led by Caroline Simpson, a local-government official whose previous economic strategy for Cheshire East was suspended following fundamental objections from a government planning inspector, can reveal.

Burnham's government describes Number 10 North as the “engine room” for delivering economic growth, regeneration and the devolution of power across the country. Simpson, his deputy chief of staff, will oversee the operation from Manchester and work with ministers, civil servants and regional authorities to direct national growth policy.

But her record warrants serious scrutiny.

Simpson spent approximately 8 years at Cheshire East Council, eventually becoming executive director for economic growth and prosperity. She was identified as the officer in charge of the council’s Local Plan, which attempted to align housing, employment and development across Crewe, Macclesfield and surrounding towns.

Planning Inspector Stephen Pratt suspended the plan’s examination in 2014 after identifying “fundamental shortcomings” in its soundness. His official report concluded that its economic strategy was “unduly pessimistic” and contained a “serious mismatch between the economic and housing strategies.”

Pratt found shortcomings in the council’s assessment of housing need, including its failure to account properly for economic factors, market signals and affordable housing. He concluded that the proposed housing provision was inadequate to support the council’s own employment strategy.

The original plan proposed 27,000 homes and 300 hectares of employment land. Following the inspector’s intervention, the council was forced to undertake extensive additional work, eventually increasing the housing figure to 36,000 and employment land to 380 hectares.

The process had reportedly cost £3.7 million and taken more than five years. Despite the failure, Simpson was promoted to executive director in a ring-fenced appointment, with her potential salary reportedly increasing from approximately £90,000 to £120,000, plus a £10,000 performance bonus. The controversy was documented at the time by the local press, yet remains unreported by Britain's major media outlets, despite her new role.

Simpson then became one of Burnham’s closest officials, serving as chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority before following him into Downing Street.

Her relationship with Burnham has already attracted criticism. One senior official told The Guardian that Simpson “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”.

In other words, she's a yes man.

Simpson is now responsible for helping drive economic growth across the entire United Kingdom. Her most relevant previous economic plan was found inadequate, internally contradictory, and unsupported by sufficient evidence.

Burnham has nevertheless placed his trusted lieutenant at the center of Britain’s new growth machinery.