Andy Burnham's Manchester Office Expands With Dozens of New Hires

Andy Burnham's office in Manchester, known as Number 10 North, has initiated a significant hiring expansion, advertising 50 new positions. This move represents a multi-million pound investment in the government outpost, established in July as a counterpart to London's Downing Street.

The newly advertised roles, which span strategy, communications, engagement, private office, and policy, are intended to support Burnham's objective of transferring power away from Westminster and closer to local communities. The government states that these positions will be funded through existing budgets, and the expansion will not result in redundancies elsewhere in the civil service. Some existing roles may be relocated, and vacant positions closed.

The expansion includes a "rewiring the state deputy director" position, with a salary range of £86,000 to £117,000. This role will be responsible for shaping the government's approach to devolution across departments. Overall, the basic salaries for the advertised positions total approximately £2.8 million, not including pension contributions. Following this hiring drive, Number 10 North will employ 120 staff, approaching half the number of personnel in London's Downing Street.

Government officials emphasize that the new recruits will collaborate with mayors and councils to identify and address obstacles hindering regional development. A government statement highlighted that Number 10 North is facilitating "the most significant transfer of power out of Westminster in a generation," aiming to bring decision-making closer to the people it affects. The recruitment campaign seeks individuals with diverse perspectives and local knowledge.

Number 10 North is also set to relocate from its temporary base in Heron House to a new government office on First Street in spring 2027. This new location will be shared with other government departments, including those focused on business, education, local government, and the Cabinet Office.

The establishment of Number 10 North was one of Burnham's initial actions as prime minister, intended to serve as the "nerve-centre of a rewired Britain" to foster growth in various regions. However, critics have labeled the office a "gimmick." Conservative Party deputy leader Alex Burghart criticized the expansion, stating that Burnham promised to streamline the civil service but is now hiring additional staff without clear funding sources. He described the initiative as "more bureaucracy at taxpayers' expense."

Concerns about transparency surrounding Number 10 North have also been raised. Conservative shadow cabinet minister Mike Wood noted a lack of clarity regarding headcount and office attendance figures. According to the new job advertisements, most staff are expected to be in the office at least 60% of the time.

Since its inception, Number 10 North has hosted meetings with regional mayors and an education summit. It has also been the venue for discussions on new mayoral powers, such as the ability to charge overnight visitor fees, and hosted a meeting between Burnham and Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin.