British Prime Minister Andy Burnham officially opened a new government hub in Manchester on 24 July 2026, naming it No10 North—a direct nod to his official London office at 10 Downing Street. The move signals a deliberate shift in economic decision-making away from the capital and toward northern England.
A New Chapter in UK Governance
Burnham assumed office on 20 July 2026, succeeding Keir Starmer. Within days, he moved to imprint his vision on the UK’s political landscape—framing No10 North as both symbolic and practical: a step toward reversing decades of centralised economic policy rooted in Westminster and Whitehall.
A Revived National Economic Council
The Manchester office will serve as the headquarters for the re-established National Economic Council, a cabinet-level body first created in 2008 under Gordon Brown during the global financial crisis. Under Burnham, the council will bring together senior ministers and regional mayors—including leaders from cities like Birmingham, Leeds, and Liverpool—to jointly steer national economic strategy.
Burnham described the initiative as a “business hub for improving Britain”—a space designed to devolve power from Westminster into local hands. “The era when Whitehall resisted decentralisation is over—irreversibly,” he said.
Political Pushback and Practical Details
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, questioned the national relevance of the move, suggesting Burnham was acting more like Manchester’s former mayor than the UK’s head of government. She urged him to focus on broader national challenges instead.
No10 North will initially operate from Heron House, a central Manchester office building currently used by the UK’s intelligence and cyber-security agency GCHQ as a regional base. Burnham plans to work from Manchester one day per week, with other ministers expected to use the site regularly. According to government announcements—and reporting by the BBC—up to 300 civil servants could relocate or spend significant time there by the end of next year.
The initiative reflects Burnham’s long-standing advocacy for devolution, honed during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester. He has characterised his premiership as a political reset—a departure from recent years’ centralising tendencies and a return to place-based governance.