No 10 North - Catalyst for Growth or a Gimmick?

Heron House, Location of No. 10 North











One of Andy Burnham's first acts on assuming power was to establish an office in the North of England for the Prime Minister to be known as "No 10 North" (see YouTube Andy Burnham opens No 10 North in Manchester 24 July 2026). It is to be found in Heron House on Lincoln Square.

Mr Burnham explained the purpose of that initiative in It’s not just a No 10 in the north, it’s an engine for growth throughout the whole UK 23 Jan 2026, The Guardian:

"No 10 North will be responsible for accelerating devolution. It will drive reindustrialisation and growth across every postcode of the UK. It will remove barriers to regeneration, from council housebuilding to public transport infrastructure. Crucially, No 10 North will bring the whole of Whitehall together behind places rather than standing in their way. Our long-term ambition is clear: to achieve equivalent living standards across all the regions and nations of the UK."

It is not altogether obvious why those objectives could not have been achieved equally well from London, but as a native Mancunian I applaud anything that enhances my city.  Having said that, it is important to note that there have been meetings outside London before (see Cabinet meets in Yorkshire 29 June 2010) and the Supreme Court has sat in Manchester (see Supreme Court to sit in Manchester for the first time 24 Sept 2022)

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