Manchester base marks new approach to regional decision-making
Andy Burnham will begin his first day working from the newly established No 10 North office in Manchester as the UK government aims to move more power and decision-making away from Westminster.
The northern branch of Downing Street is part of the prime minister’s plan to give regions across the country a greater role in shaping economic growth and local development.
Ministers Lucy Powell and Louise Haigh are also expected to work regularly from the Manchester site, with around 300 civil servants set to join them by the end of next year.
National Economic Council meets in Manchester
Burnham’s first major meeting at No 10 North will be a session of the National Economic Council, bringing together senior ministers and regional mayors to discuss plans for economic growth.
The council, originally created in 2008, will focus on putting devolution at the centre of the government’s strategy.
The prime minister said decades of centralised decision-making had left many communities feeling ignored.
“For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre,” Burnham said, adding that the era of Whitehall resisting devolution was over.
More decisions to move outside London
Strategic decisions on devolution and regional economic growth will increasingly be handled from No 10 North, although government departments including the Treasury will continue to play a role.
Burnham’s first day will also include meetings with business groups, including representatives from the Federation of Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry and the British Chambers of Commerce.
The government wants to create a closer partnership between civil servants, mayors, councils and businesses to boost investment across the country.
Cost of living measures face opposition criticism
During his first week as prime minister, Burnham announced several measures aimed at easing financial pressure, including a planned 20% reduction in business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues from next year.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised his plans, saying they lacked ambition.
She argued that being a mayor managing government funding was different from leading the country and called on Burnham to address wider issues such as business energy costs and defence spending.
Long-term plan for regional government
No 10 North will initially operate from Heron House in central Manchester, a building that also houses offices for intelligence agency GCHQ.
Burnham is expected to work from the location every week, while a permanent government base in Manchester’s Ancoats area is planned but will not be completed until 2032.
Previous governments have also attempted to move more civil service jobs away from London. Current figures show around 19.6% of civil servants are based in the capital, with the number gradually falling in recent years.
Officials who choose to relocate to Manchester are expected to receive relocation support packages.
The move represents a major test of Burnham’s promise to reshape how government operates and bring decision-making closer to communities across the UK.
