Key facts
- No 10 North, a new branch of the Prime Minister's office, will operate from Manchester.
- Senior ministers and aides are expected to work regularly from the Manchester office.
- The initiative is intended to be a 'dominant driver of the UK's economy'.
- Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner are among those planning to work there.
- Andy Burnham aims to be based at No 10 North at least one day a week.
A new branch of the Prime Minister's office, dubbed No 10 North, is set to operate from Manchester, with senior ministers and aides expected to work there regularly. The initiative, described by the prime minister as the "dominant driver of the UK's economy", is currently based at Heron House while a redevelopment takes place.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, and Louise Haigh, who is overseeing No 10 North, are planning to work from the new location. Andy Burnham aims to be at No 10 North at least one day a week, accompanied by his closest adviser, Kevin Lee, who will move there after the upcoming mayoral election. At least seven employees from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, including chief executive Caroline Simpson who will become Downing Street deputy chief of staff, are also relocating.
Some London-based civil servants have voiced concerns regarding the uncertainty of the plans and the potential difficulty of returning to London due to house price disparities. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, welcomed structural changes but cautioned about the impact on staff. Dr Simon Kaye, author of a report on No 10 North, emphasized the need for the office to establish itself as a vital entity that can persist beyond the current administration.
While many civil servants welcome the idea, some question whether No 10 North will be substantially different from existing regional offices, especially as most ministers and journalists remain in London. Officials in northern England also feel they should have had opportunities to apply for positions before relocation packages for London staff were considered.