Burnham Chairs 1st National Economic Council From No 10 North in Manchester
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 23
Burnham Chairs 1st National Economic Council From No 10 North in Manchester
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 23
Summary
Monday’s first National Economic Council meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Andy Burnham from No 10 North in Manchester, bringing senior ministers and regional mayors together around growth and devolution.
No 10 North is designed to shift decision-making out of London and align No 10 with the Treasury, which Burnham says is necessary after 40 years of centralisation, deindustrialisation and failed regional revival efforts.
The Manchester hub will be tasked with accelerating devolution, reindustrialisation, council housebuilding and transport upgrades, while forcing Whitehall departments to back local regeneration plans rather than block them.
Later this year, Burnham said the government will publish a 10-year national plan; in its first 5 days, it has already announced 2 tax cuts on winter electricity VAT and business rates for pubs and venues.
Beyond moving civil servants, what will it truly take to shift power from London?
Could establishing a 'second capital' in Manchester deepen regional divides instead of healing them?
No 10 North and the Devolution Revolution: Key Metrics and Challenges in Rewiring British Governance
Overview
On July 23, 2026, the UK government marked a turning point with the inauguration of No 10 North in Manchester. Prime Minister Andy Burnham made clear that this new northern base is not just symbolic, but a real step toward decentralizing power. He declared that the era of resisting devolution is over, setting out a mission to extend decision-making authority beyond Westminster. The government’s strategy focuses on fostering collaboration between ministers and civil servants, aiming to build a more responsive and regionally empowered Britain. This move signals a strong commitment to genuine devolution and a new approach to national governance.