UK PM Andy Burnham Unveils ‘No 10 North’ to Drive Devolution, Growth and Reindustrialisation Across Britain.
London:
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced the launch of “No 10 North”, a major government initiative aimed at reshaping the British state by decentralising power, accelerating regional economic growth and advancing devolution across the United Kingdom.
In a statement outlining his government’s vision, Burnham described the initiative as the first major act of his administration and one he hopes will become its defining legacy. The project formally began with a team of senior officials and advisers establishing operations in Manchester, approximately 165 miles from London, signalling a shift in the centre of government decision-making.
Burnham argued that Britain has suffered from decades of over-centralisation, tracing the roots of regional inequality to policies introduced during the 1980s. He said political power became increasingly concentrated in Westminster while economic power was privatised and many industrial communities experienced long-term decline.
According to the Prime Minister, many towns and cities have struggled to recover because they lacked the authority and resources needed to shape their own economic futures. He said this persistent imbalance has contributed to growing public dissatisfaction and political divisions across the country.
Criticising previous attempts to reduce regional inequality, including the “levelling up” agenda, Burnham said such programmes failed because meaningful decision-making remained concentrated in London despite the relocation of some government offices.
He explained that No 10 North is intended to change that model by placing regional development and economic growth at the heart of government while ensuring closer coordination between Downing Street and the Treasury.
Under the new initiative, No 10 North will oversee efforts to accelerate devolution, support reindustrialisation, promote investment across every region of the UK and remove barriers to regeneration. The government also intends to improve council housing development, expand public transport infrastructure and encourage stronger collaboration among Whitehall departments in support of local communities.
Burnham said the long-term ambition is to achieve equivalent living standards across all regions and nations of the United Kingdom by giving local leaders greater authority over economic development and public services.
“Growth cannot be imposed from the top down. It has to be nurtured from the bottom up,” Burnham said, adding that decades of centralised policymaking had failed to deliver balanced national prosperity.
The Prime Minister also announced that he would chair the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council from No 10 North, bringing together senior Cabinet ministers and regional mayors. The council is expected to coordinate government departments around regional growth strategies and ensure that devolution commitments are implemented effectively.
Drawing on his experience as the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham pointed to achievements including bringing bus services back under public control, expanding opportunities for young people and delivering strong economic growth. He said the Greater Manchester model demonstrates what can be achieved when regions are given greater powers and that his government intends to replicate that success nationwide.
Looking ahead, Burnham revealed that the government will publish a 10-year national plan later this year outlining its strategy to rebuild Britain’s economy. The plan will focus on restoring stronger public control over essential services to improve affordability, promoting reindustrialisation across the country, expanding council housing and addressing the housing crisis.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that structural reforms would take time but said the government would also pursue immediate measures to ease the financial burden on households and businesses. He highlighted recent tax cuts, including reductions in VAT on household electricity bills during winter and lower business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues.
Burnham said his administration is committed to delivering both short-term relief and long-term structural reforms simultaneously, arguing that the combination is necessary to restore public confidence and put Britain on a sustainable path to economic renewal.
Describing the reforms as the most significant redistribution of power in modern Britain, Burnham said the government is determined to move beyond centralised governance and build a more balanced, inclusive and economically resilient United Kingdom.
