Burnham plans to split time between Downing Street and Manchester if PM

Andy Burnham, a leading candidate to succeed Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has announced plans to establish a 'No 10 North' government unit in Manchester if he wins the Labour leadership. He intends to split his working week between Downing Street and Manchester, aiming to rebalance power away from Westminster and devolve decision-making to English regions.

The proposed 'No 10 North' base is slated for a brownfield site in Ancoats, Manchester, as part of the Manchester Digital Campus project. This campus is expected to house approximately 8,800 civil servants and be fully operational by 2032, offering 900,000 sq ft of workspace. Burnham's team is also reportedly seeking an interim office in Manchester. Caroline Simpson, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, has been appointed to lead Burnham's northern operations.

Burnham's vision includes giving English regions more control over areas like housing and transport, and transferring key economic decisions from Whitehall to local communities. This initiative aims to be the largest rebalancing of power in the country's history. While past prime ministers have spent time away from London, Burnham's arrangement is described as different from the norm, potentially making him the first prime minister since Harold Wilson not to reside primarily in Downing Street.