Andy Burnham, a potential future prime minister, has outlined plans to govern Britain part-time from Manchester, proposing a "No 10 North" outpost as the central hub for his administration. This approach would involve him maintaining his family home near Wigan and using 10 Downing Street primarily for work in the capital.
Burnham's vision includes a significant rebalancing of power across the country, aiming for "good growth in every postcode." He stated that Westminster has been "broken" for a long time, leading to the nation being "stuck in a rut." He expressed a need for "new determination to raise living standards of every person in this land."
His proposed agenda includes a large-scale council house building program, a focus on manufacturing jobs, and state control over utilities. He suggested these measures could revive the "working-class aspiration" characteristic of the 1970s. Burnham indicated that mayors would be granted new powers over taxation, housing, and welfare as part of this devolution drive.
While Burnham suggested that his devolution efforts might take a decade to yield sustained increases in living standards, he also hinted at providing immediate cost-of-living relief in an autumn budget, emphasizing that he would not take risks with public finances.
However, the plan has drawn criticism. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued that Burnham's agenda amounts to "more tax" to fund transfers to the North of England, which she characterized as an attempt to "bribe voters." Security experts have raised concerns about the potential cost of replicating the security infrastructure of Downing Street in the North, estimating it could run into tens of millions of pounds annually.
Some government insiders have expressed fears that a part-time approach to leading from the North could exacerbate a working-from-home culture within Whitehall, potentially leading more officials to "dial in" when the prime minister is outside London. Both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak reportedly considered living in their family homes while serving as prime minister but found the demands of the job made it impractical.
Burnham's allies have described his plan as integral to his identity, stating that "He isn't just from the North, he's of the North." He is expected to become prime minister on July 20, following a significant by-election victory that reshaped the Labour party leadership landscape, despite not having stood in the recent 2024 general election.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, cautioned against a lengthy implementation period for such changes, citing experiences in Wales and Scotland where devolution has not automatically guaranteed improved growth or public services. Farage stated that the country does not have "ten years" to wait for recovery and that "immediate action" is required. Badenoch also criticized the plan, describing it as insufficient and lacking detail beyond tasking mayors with sorting out issues with limited accountability.