UK’s Burnham opens ‘No10 North’ to shift economic power from London

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will on Friday officially open a new government hub in Manchester, branded “No10 North”, in a symbolic extension of his Downing Street office as he seeks to shift economic decision-making away from London.

Burnham, who took office on Monday after succeeding Keir Starmer, is moving swiftly to shape his premiership, with the northern England base intended to demonstrate his commitment to devolving power from Westminster to the regions after decades of policymaking centred on the capital.

The new prime minister, who previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester, will use the office to chair the inaugural meeting of a revived National Economic Council, bringing together senior cabinet ministers and regional mayors to coordinate the government’s economic growth agenda.

The council was originally established by then-prime minister Gordon Brown during the 2008 financial crisis to oversee Britain’s response to the economic downturn.

Describing No10 North as “the situation room for making Britain better”, Burnham said the office would help transfer decision-making from Whitehall to local communities. “The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good,” he said.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the move, arguing Burnham was “behaving like he’s still the Mayor of Manchester” and should instead focus on national priorities.

Initially based at Heron House in central Manchester, which already hosts the northern hub of Britain’s intelligence and cyber agencies, No10 North will be used by Burnham every week, with other ministers also expected to work from the site regularly. The initiative reflects Burnham’s long-standing campaign to devolve greater powers from Westminster to cities and regions across the UK.