Key facts
- Britain has opened 'No. 10 North', a new power hub located in Manchester, approximately 165 miles from London.
- The office is intended to decentralize power and spread economic growth across the country.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham aims to give local leaders more powers and control over funding.
- Mayors will be able to retain a greater share of income and business tax revenue from their areas.
- The move is seen by supporters as a significant shift in governance, while critics view it as a potential gimmick.
Britain has established a new center of power in Manchester with the opening of 'No. 10 North', a move by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to decentralize governance and stimulate economic growth beyond London. Located in a modern office block, the facility is intended to symbolize and drive Burnham's pledge to empower local leaders and redistribute economic opportunities.
Burnham, who previously served as the mayor of Greater Manchester, aims to balance the political power traditionally concentrated in Westminster. He plans to work from the Manchester office at least one day a week, supported by a dedicated staff. This initiative is presented as a fundamental change in how the country approaches growth and investment, contrasting with the cramped conditions of the official prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street.
Supporters, like Rose Marley, CEO of Cooperatives UK, view the move as a refreshing change that brings government closer to the people and diverse voices across the country. Professor Rob Ford of the University of Manchester acknowledges the ambition to alter the highly centralized nature of UK government, calling it a "huge job."
In a first step, Burnham announced that mayors will retain a larger portion of income and business tax revenue from their regions, which he described as the most significant transfer of power and responsibility from Westminster in a generation. However, details on the exact amount of new funding for mayors are still forthcoming. Critics, including the anti-immigration party Reform UK, have voiced skepticism, with some calling the initiative a "gimmick" and pointing out that Manchester's economic boom has not extended to all its surrounding areas.