Government 'Mindset Shift' Needed for No. 10 North Success, Says Deputy

A fundamental "mindset shift" is required within the UK's central government for the new Number 10 North office to effectively deliver on its goals, according to its deputy director.

Duncan Parish stated at a conference in Lincolnshire on Wednesday that "institutional challenges" within government must be overcome to facilitate change. Number 10 North, an extension of the Prime Minister's London-based Downing Street office, was established in Manchester in July by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Parish, who previously worked in Whitehall before moving to Manchester four years ago, described his civil service career as "not without its frustrations," citing "friction" between government bodies with overlapping yet slightly competing objectives.

He explained that Number 10 North staff are focused on "delivering outcomes at a national level across a huge range of areas," including health, transport, education, and social care. "But we continually need to work to overcome those institutional challenges," Parish added.

A key priority for Number 10 North is to "shift power and accountability" closer to local areas. Parish acknowledged that this requires "reforming the civil service" by moving away from viewing national, regional, and local government as distinct entities.

Addressing Blockages and Promoting Growth

Parish further elaborated on Number 10 North's role in fostering growth by stating, "We're here to unblock issues that may have become stalled or where boundaries within government end up being a hindrance." He noted that government work is "too often perceived as either difficult or slow."

"But to deliver that change, requires us all to change - and part of that change is a mindset shift within central government," he emphasized. "We need to focus on the whole country and work across those boundaries, bringing in mayoral strategic authorities like Greater Lincolnshire into discussions that previously they may not have been part of - working bottom-up, rather than top-down."

His remarks come amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding the cost of the new headquarters to taxpayers. In September, Conservative shadow minister Mike Wood questioned the "little information and so little transparency" surrounding Number 10 North, labeling it a "gimmick" and calling for the release of its annual budget, staff numbers, and office attendance statistics.

Cabinet Office minister Sally Jameson recently stated that the government does not track spending on hotels for Number 10 North staff, ministers, and special advisers traveling between London and Manchester. This expenditure is "not centrally collated" but is "being met within existing departmental budgets," Jameson responded to a parliamentary inquiry.

Number 10 North is scheduled to host its latest summit of regional mayors on Thursday in its "situation room." Burnham has committed to working from the office at least once a week and previously hosted Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin there in September.

Parish outlined a vision for success, stating, "How will we know if Number 10 North is working? Ultimately, success will be in people in the UK feeling the difference in their communities, with greater opportunities, improved living standards, faster decisions...more joined up services and a stronger voice in the future of their place."