On his inaugural day working from the newly established government base in Manchester, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham staunchly defended the creation of No 10 North. He hailed it as a significant milestone in the effort to shift power away from London. Burnham emphasized that the new office represents “the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen.” Addressing concerns over its financial implications, he justified the initiative by asserting that it would foster “a more balanced country” where pivotal national decisions could be made outside the capital.
During a National Economic Council meeting, Burnham expressed his enthusiasm, calling the event “the best day of my life,” with a light-hearted note that his wife might have a differing opinion. He assured regional mayors that No 10 North would actively collaborate with local leaders to bolster economic growth throughout the nation. The prime minister outlined a vision of central government and regional authorities operating as “one team,” rather than forcing local leaders to navigate the complexities of multiple government departments.
In related government developments, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner recognized the challenges of meeting the administration’s goal of constructing 1.5 million homes during this Parliament. However, she affirmed that the objective would not be forsaken. Rayner also dismissed the possibility of implementing rent controls, citing recent reforms in renters’ rights as already impacting the housing market.
Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party (SNP) criticized the government’s newly announced cost-of-living measures, which include reduced bus fares, lower VAT on electricity bills, and business rate relief for pubs and clubs. The SNP argued that these initiatives fall short of adequately supporting households. Additionally, ministers are expected to review the government’s early prisoner release scheme in the coming weeks.
Concurrently, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on Burnham to adopt a tougher stance against US President Donald Trump. This comes after the United States imposed new tariffs on imports from over 80 countries. Davey described Trump as “a bully and an unreliable ally,” urging Burnham to address the issue more assertively. The inauguration of No 10 North is intended to symbolize the government’s broader agenda of decentralizing decision-making and encouraging economic development across the UK’s regions.