Andy Burnham establishes No. 10 North as a new hub of power to decentralize government and boost northern growth.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched "No. 10 North," a new flagship office in Manchester designed to decentralize power from London. The office serves as a symbol of the administration's pledge to give local leaders more autonomy and spread economic growth across the country. By establishing this hub, Andy Burnham aims to replicate his successful "Manchesterism" model—a business-friendly socialism that leverages private investment and local control—on a national scale. To support this move, the administration announced that mayors will retain a larger share of local income and business tax revenue. While critics suggest the move could be viewed as a gimmick, supporters argue it reduces the need for regional leaders to travel to the capital and ensures that voices from outside London are heard. The office currently shares a building with a chain pub and a civic register office, with plans for a future headquarters. Experts note that while the move is bold, Andy Burnham must prove that the benefits of which extend beyond Manchester to other northern cities like Leeds and Sheffield.