Burnham revives National Economic Council as No 10 North opens in Manchester

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has formally opened No 10 North, a new weekly operational base in Manchester, marking a significant shift in the geography of British governance. Located in Heron House in the city centre, the facility serves as the northern counterpart to Downing Street and is intended to decentralise decision-making from London. Burnham described the initiative as the most substantial rebalancing of power the country has witnessed, aiming to correct the historical concentration of authority in the capital.

Concurrently, the Prime Minister has revived the National Economic Council (NEC), a body originally established by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown during the 2008 financial crisis. The NEC will function as an economic coordination committee, bringing together senior ministers, regional mayors, business leaders, and trade unions. Burnham will chair the inaugural meeting on Friday, asserting that the revival of the council is necessary to address economic challenges with the same urgency and collective action required during the global recession.

The structural changes follow the creation of the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, led by Louise Haigh, which will oversee both the London and Manchester operations. This new department consolidates parts of the Cabinet Office, Treasury, and housing ministry to act as the dominant driver of the UK economy. Burnham stated that the era of fighting devolution is over, arguing that sharing power does not diminish central authority but rather enhances national effectiveness.

Operational staffing for No 10 North is underway, with the facility led by senior civil servant Sam Lister. At least seven employees from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, including Burnham’s deputy chief of staff Caroline Simpson and aide Kevin Lee, have moved into the temporary building while a permanent brownfield site is developed. Other ministers, including Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner, who both hold seats in Greater Manchester, plan to spend part of their time working from the Manchester base.

The NEC’s composition will vary depending on the issues under consideration, described by officials as an economic version of the Cobra emergency committee. Burnham’s stated ambition is to drive reindustrialisation and achieve equivalent living standards across all regions. While Dave Penman of the FDA union welcomed the structural changes, he cautioned that the relocation of staff remains a significant logistical decision. The Prime Minister maintains that the new structure will remove barriers to regeneration and align Whitehall departments behind local growth strategies.