The initiative to establish a dual base for Prime Minister Andy Burnham in both London and Manchester, dubbed 'No. 10 North,' is reportedly facing significant logistical hurdles, according to government sources. Burnham announced the new department with considerable fanfare in the summer, aiming to decentralize government functions by splitting his responsibilities between Downing Street and GCHQ's Heron House in Manchester.
However, sources suggest that the demands of the Prime Minister's London workload have made it difficult for him to travel to Manchester as frequently as initially planned. Government sources describe the 'No. 10 North' operation as "a bit of a fiasco so far," with the Prime Minister "struggling" to find time to leave the capital. One Whitehall source stated that Burnham "underestimated the scale of his Downing Street workload" and that his aides are reportedly frustrated by his tendency to engage in lengthy discussions during meetings, which disrupts his daily schedule.
Security concerns have also been raised. A lack of fully vetted political staff available to work from Manchester could pose a problem in the event of a national emergency. Security sources indicated that if a crisis were to occur while Burnham is in Manchester, he would need to be immediately flown to either London or Edinburgh, as the Manchester facility is not equipped as a full Prime Ministerial war room.
Despite these challenges, a No. 10 spokesman asserted that it is untrue that meetings are running late and that there are no security issues associated with 'No. 10 North.'