Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to become the next Prime Minister, plans to spend as little time as possible in Downing Street, with allies revealing he intends to govern from around the country and expects his ministers to follow suit. This forms part of a proposed 'radical rewiring' of the British state aimed at decentralising power to every town hall and postcode in the UK, according to sources close to the Prime Minister-in-waiting.
Vision for a New Governance Model
Mr Burnham’s team is fleshing out his vision for a radical overhaul of British governance, which would see a future Prime Minister split his time between Westminster and a new hub in Greater Manchester. Under the plans, Mr Burnham expects to work from a proposed No 10 North in Greater Manchester at least one day a week. Sources told the Manchester Evening News that Mr Burnham believes political leadership should be visible in communities across the country rather than concentrated in Whitehall, arguing that decision-making “doesn’t only happen in Westminster.”
Leadership Contest and Nominations
Mr Burnham has spent this week meeting with Parliamentary Labour Party colleagues after nominations for the leadership formally opened on Thursday. Allies said he secured 322 nominations on the first day of the contest, making it mathematically impossible for any other candidate to enter the race. He is expected to spend the weekend back in his Makerfield constituency, listening to residents and spending time with his family, where he plans to watch England’s World Cup match. Mr Burnham’s expected hustings with the PLP, which will feature just one candidate — him, will take place on Monday. Members of the parliamentary party will have the opportunity to put questions directly.
Location and Implementation of No 10 North
As previously reported, it is believed that Mr Burnham’s preferred location for the No 10 North project is the Government’s new digital campus near Manchester Piccadilly, although interim arrangements could be put in place to allow the operation to begin work sooner. The MEN understands that this week Burnham and his senior team have also been holding detailed policy discussions on issues including transport, energy and water. The proposals for a No 10 North operation are being designed to drive devolution and economic growth, while working alongside, rather than duplicating, the functions of Downing Street. Sources stressed the move was not just about shifting power to the north, but pushing it out of Westminster to all corners of the country.
Reactions and Criticisms
Allies of Mr Burnham have claimed the plans are a fundamental shift in how Britain is governed. “Bottom-up, not top-down; place-first, not Westminster-first,” one source said. Critics, however, have argued that the proposal risks creating confusion at the heart of the government by splitting the future PM’s time between London and Manchester. Some opponents have also argued that the No 10 North could become an expensive layer of bureaucracy and have questioned whether the Cabinet can function effectively if ministers are expected to spend significantly more time away from Whitehall.
Supporters' Defense and Future Plans
Supporters of the plan have dismissed such arguments, stating that the intention is not to duplicate No 10 but to nudge Whitehall to work more closely with local leaders, providing staffing, expertise and resources with the aim of helping to drive growth and improve public services. The plans are a sign of Mr Burnham’s belief that Greater Manchester has demonstrated what can be achieved when places are given greater control over their own futures, pointing to the region’s economic growth, ability to attract investment and efforts to reform public services and transport. Mr Burnham has asked Caroline Simpson, the chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to lead the work from No 10 North. Sources stressed that no other decisions have yet been made regarding personnel or appointments.
