Andy Burnham Opens No 10 North to Devolve UK Power

After succeeding Keir Starmer on July 20, 2026, Andy Burnham has launched a strategy to decentralize British political power by establishing No 10 North in Manchester. Operating initially from Heron House, the facility serves as a "situation room for growth" where the Prime Minister intends to work weekly. This initiative includes the revival of the National Economic Council to coordinate strategy between senior ministers, regional mayors, and business leaders, as well as the creation of the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to manage devolution and regional growth policy.

In his first week, Burnham announced approximately £1.5 billion in spending to mitigate the cost of living. Key measures include removing VAT from domestic electricity bills starting October 1, implementing a £2 bus fare cap in England for 2027, and cutting business rates by 20% for pubs and live music venues. He also pledged £340 million to end rough sleeping and announced a major tax reform for July 31 that would grant England's 14 regional mayors a share of income tax revenue. However, he paused an early prison release scheme for a safety review and ruled out a snap general election.

Reactions to the "Manchesterism" blueprint have been divided. First Secretary of State Louise Haigh described the move as a fundamental re-balancing of power, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed it as a gimmick, claiming Burnham is behaving like a mayor rather than a prime minister. Devolved leaders in Scotland and Wales expressed skepticism, questioning if the shift represents genuine fiscal power or mere rhetoric.