Police officers have been seen guarding the entrance of the interim No 10 North site in Manchester city centre today (July 22). They were spotted outside Heron House on Albert Square, the building currently occupied by GCHQ, which sits a stone's throw from Manchester town hall and the council's offices.
Interim home for Number 10 North
The building is set to be the interim home of Number 10 North, a move announced by Andy Burnham to 'rebalance' political power in Britain, out of which ministers are 'already' reportedly working, just two days on from the new MP's appointment.
The Makerfield MP told his first cabinet meeting yesterday that the idea is "not a gimmick" and that the time for 'resisting devolution' was 'over'.
Oversight and relocation
The northern branch of 10 Downing Street is set to be overseen by Louise Haigh, who has been asked to lead a new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC). Its HQ has been widely tipped to be at the 'Manchester Digital Campus', on the former Toys R Us site on Great Ancoats Street despite claims around the area. But as this building will not be complete until 2032, the new initiative will be housed in the interim at Heron House.
The presence of police officers at the entrance today appears to confirm comments from Downing Street that Number 10 North is already up and running. The BBC previously reported that civil servants based in London have been offered relocation packages to encourage them to move up north.
Staff and economic impact
The BBC also reports that at least three senior figures at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have agreed to work at No 10 North. Staff at the GMCA reportedly only found out after seeing their colleagues on TV greeting the new prime minister in Downing Street.
Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Angela Smith, said No 10 North would be a dominant driver of the UK's economy. She said: “Today, we are fundamentally rewiring the state, changing the geography of government to deliver a stronger, more strategic centre that empowers local leaders, and acts as the engine room for driving economic growth across the whole country. “To ensure places are at the very heart of government strategy, the Prime Minister is establishing No 10 North as the engine room of devolution and good growth in every postcode, across government and the wider economy.”
As for how the northern headquarters will operate, the answer may be found in a report by Re:State – a public services think tank which Mr Burnham was involved with until he stepped down as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Report recommendations
Plan for Government: Building No 10 North was written by Dr Simon Kaye, director of policy and research. It suggests around 300 staff should be employed at the flagship outpost within 18 months, suggesting the transfer of teams from certain Whitehall departments, including the Treasury, Cabinet Office, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. No 10 North must not merely be symbolic, warns Kayne, nor must it be too small and “a road to larger and more complex central government”.
