New ‘No 10 North’ Plan Aims to Redistribute Power Across Britain, Burnham Vows
New No 10 North plan will – Andy Burnham has unveiled a bold initiative, establishing a prime minister’s office in Manchester and naming it ‘No 10 North.’ During his maiden address since launching a bid for leadership, he described this move as the catalyst for ‘the most significant power redistribution our nation has faced,’ seeking to foster growth in every region. The plan emphasizes shifting authority from central Whitehall to local communities, a departure from traditional governance structures.
His vision includes a focus on expanding council housing, overhauling education systems, and implementing welfare reforms. Burnham also highlighted the need to give more autonomy to regions, suggesting local control over vital services like water and energy. This approach, he argued, would allow cities such as Dundee and Bangor to have a stronger voice in their governance.
“It is time for Whitehall to accept that growth cannot be ordered from the top down—it can only be nurtured from the bottom up,” Burnham stated, addressing concerns about centralised decision-making hindering progress in Manchester.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed Burnham’s proposals, suggesting they were a way to ‘pass the problem to someone else.’ Burnham, who became the MP for Makerfield last month, is the sole Labour candidate so far, potentially securing the next leadership role by mid-July if no others emerge.
Speaking at the People’s History Museum, Burnham welcomed mayors from Liverpool, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire. While outlining his government’s direction, he avoided detailed policies and skipped the customary Q&A session. His focus remained on empowering local areas through devolution, with an emphasis on decentralised control over essential services and broader regional powers.
Burnham’s plan includes three pillars: reform of utilities, reindustrialisation, and regeneration. These initiatives aim to revitalise the UK’s economic landscape, with a particular push to support high street businesses through changes to business rates. He framed this as a step toward reimagining Britain’s ‘renaissance,’ stating, “Our high streets should be symbols of national revival, not decline.”
Key Policy Priorities
Burnham’s strategy also centres on transforming the education system, moving away from its current university-centric model to prioritise technical training. He pledged a ‘complete rethink’ of youth support, linking it to employment programs and localised services that ‘people trust.’ This vision aligns with Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which aims to extend devolution to new areas and deepen powers in existing combined authorities.
Earlier in 2025, Angela Rayner, then local government secretary, proposed creating six new mayoral roles across regions like Cheshire, Essex, and Sussex. Burnham’s campaign now seeks to build on this foundation, positioning ‘No 10 North’ as a tool for regional empowerment. His leadership will face challenges, including balancing the Makerfield and Moscow tests, as former military chief Alan Milburn noted.
