On his inaugural day at the newly established No 10 North in Manchester, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the office’s creation, emphasizing its significance in decentralizing power from London. Burnham highlighted that this initiative represents “the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen.” In response to concerns about the project’s expenses, he asserted that the office would contribute to “a more balanced country” by enabling important national decisions to be made outside the capital city.
During a National Economic Council meeting, Burnham referred to the event as “the best day of my life,” while humorously noting that his wife might not share that sentiment. He assured regional mayors that No 10 North would collaborate closely with local leaders to bolster economic growth throughout the nation. The prime minister stressed that the new strategy intends to make central government and regional authorities operate as “one team,” thereby eliminating the need for local leaders to navigate multiple government departments.
In other political developments, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner admitted that achieving the government’s goal of constructing 1.5 million homes within this Parliament is challenging but maintained that the target would not be discarded. Rayner also dismissed the possibility of implementing rent controls, stating that recent reforms in renters’ rights are already impacting the housing market.
Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party (SNP) criticized the government’s recently announced cost-of-living measures, arguing that they fall short in supporting households. The measures include lower bus fares, reduced VAT on electricity bills, and business rate relief for pubs and clubs. Additionally, ministers signaled that a review of the government’s early prisoner release scheme is anticipated in the coming weeks.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on Prime Minister Burnham to adopt a tougher stance against US President Donald Trump following the United States’ imposition of new tariffs on imports from over 80 countries. Davey labeled Trump as “a bully and an unreliable ally.” The establishment of No 10 North serves as a symbol of the government’s broader agenda to decentralize decision-making and foster economic development across the UK’s regions.