Prime minister opens ‘No 10 North’ office in Manchester

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has held the first official meeting at “No 10 North”, a new government base in Manchester intended to shift more decision-making beyond Westminster.

Burnham described the opening as a practical step towards rebalancing power across England. The office will host ministers, advisers and meetings of the revived National Economic Council, which brings together political and regional leaders to discuss growth.

Critics have questioned the office’s cost and whether a new address will deliver meaningful change. Burnham argues that a permanent northern base will help national government hear more directly from cities, businesses and communities outside London.

The move comes during the new prime minister’s first week in office. His government has also announced a £2 cap on bus fares in England, plans to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills and tax support for pubs and clubs.

The test will be whether the new office changes where decisions are made, rather than simply where meetings take place.

Original reporting: Sky News ↗