Andy Burnham Launches No 10 North to Lead Growth

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has established No 10 North, a satellite office based at Heron House in Manchester, to lead the government's economic growth mission. The move transfers responsibility for growth from the Treasury to this new outpost, allowing the Treasury to focus exclusively on controlling public finances. Overseen by cabinet ally Louise Haigh and directed by Sam Lister, the unit aims to coordinate growth policies across sectors like housing and education while empowering metro mayors through radical devolution.

Burnham described the shift as a huge transfer of power intended to bypass institutional caution and short-term thinking within Whitehall. He intends to work from the Manchester office once per week and plans to present a 10-year reform plan following the October 28 Budget. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner defended the initiative as a means of empowering local economies, denying that the restructuring constitutes a demotion for Chancellor John Healey, who reportedly supports the transition.

Critics, including the Conservative Party and former Treasury minister David Gauke, have dismissed the office as a gimmick. Some former officials warn that because the Treasury retains control over spending and taxation, it remains the most powerful department, which could lead to policy clashes over funding. The announcement comes as the Office for National Statistics reported July inflation rose to 2.9%, driven by energy price increases linked to the Iran war. Separately, Burnham acknowledged a bumpy start to his premiership due to prisoner release controversies, noting that Justice Secretary Alex Norris will present a revised solution on September 1.