Andy Burnham plans No 10 North as nerve centre of devolved Britain
Andy Burnham has announced plans to establish a northern counterpart to Downing Street, promising that “No 10 North” will become the operational heart of a fundamentally restructured United Kingdom — one that shifts real power away from Westminster and into the regions for the first time in modern political history.
What is No 10 North?
The Greater Manchester Mayor described the proposed hub as a “nerve centre of rewired Britain,” a physical and symbolic base from which devolved authorities across the north of England would coordinate policy, share resources, and push back against what he called decades of centralised decision-making that had left northern cities underfunded and underrepresented. Burnham didn’t mince words. He framed the proposal not as a wish list but as a concrete political ambition he intends to pursue aggressively in the coming months.
The idea builds on Greater Manchester’s existing devolution settlement, which since 2017 has given the region control over areas including transport, housing, and aspects of health spending. But Burnham wants to go much further — and he wants other metro mayors on board to do it.
The case for rewiring power
Burnham has long argued that London absorbs a disproportionate share of public investment. Government figures show that London receives roughly £3,000 more per head in public spending than the north-west of England. That gap, his office insists, isn’t just an economic problem — it’s a democratic one.
A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said the mayor believes “the current model of government is simply not fit for purpose” and that a northern power base would allow regions to move faster and smarter than any Whitehall department ever could.
Still, critics are already asking hard questions. Some Labour MPs at Westminster are wary of a parallel power structure that could embarrass the national government. Others point out that without new funding streams and genuine legislative authority, No 10 North risks becoming little more than a rebranded press operation.
Labour’s delicate balancing act
The timing is politically loaded. Keir Starmer’s government has committed to a devolution agenda, but 10 months into office it has moved cautiously. Burnham’s announcement applies visible pressure from within Labour’s own tent — a reminder that the mayors, not just the cabinet, are setting the pace on this debate.
And Burnham clearly relishes that position.
He is expected to formally outline the proposal at a northern mayors summit later this autumn, where metro leaders from West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, and South Yorkshire are likely to be asked to sign on. West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has already signalled support for a coordinated northern governance model, though the specific details remain under discussion.
What comes next
Whether No 10 North ever opens its doors depends on negotiations that haven’t really started yet. It’ll need political will in Whitehall, agreement among mayors who don’t always agree, and public buy-in from communities that have heard big promises before.
But as a statement of intent, it’s one of the boldest things a regional politician has put on the table in years — and it won’t be easy for anyone in Westminster to simply ignore.
