See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 09:31 BST, 26 June 2026 | Updated: 17:45 BST, 29 June 2026
Security experts have sounded alarm over Andy Burnham's plan to set up a 'No10 in the North' - as Government insiders warned it will just mean 'more people dialling in and doing f*** all work'.The idea has emerged as a symbol of the former Greater Manchester mayor's determination to decentralise power from Westminster.It has been compared to US President Donald Trump's fondness for splitting his time between his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and the White House in Washington DC.But Mr Burnham - who is on track to become PM as soon as July 17 - has been warned that creating a regular base in Manchester would be far from simple.Philip Grindell, a former detective who advised Parliament on security for MPs after the killing of Jo Cox, said the site would need to replicate the security arrangements in place for the real No10. Security experts have sounded alarm over Andy Burnham's plan to set up a 'No10 in the North'That is on a gated street with bomb-proof infrastructure, scanning stations and 24-hour armed police on duty, among other measures.'It's not clear this is a very thought through idea from Andy Burnham,' Mr Grindell - who now runs security firm Defuse Global - said.'Any sort of ''base'' regularly used by the PM in Manchester would almost certainly have to duplicate the security regime at the real Downing Street.'That would be very expensive - any premise would need to be suitable to prevent a variety of attack methods, from simple to sophisticated...'We are talking tens of millions of pounds of costs every year.''The other issue would be who takes primacy over the PM's protection, the Met or Greater Manchester Police?'That is before you get to the logistical issues of Cobra meetings, secure communications and not being physically near the rest of Whitehall when you need to have urgent in depth discussions.'The PM already has use of the Chequers country estate in Buckinghamshire. One weary Government insider predicted the plan will be a debacle 'like every other attempt'. 'Everyone spends the working week in Westminster,' they said. 'It will just mean more people dialling in and doing f*** all work.'Mr Burnham - who revels in the nickname 'King of the North' - is expected to flesh out his devolution plans in a speech next week. He looks set to be the only leadership candidate to be nominated by Labour MPs following the resignation of Keir Starmer.Unless another contender surfaces he is scheduled to take over on July 17, when the nominations close. Any Northern base for the PM would need to replicate the security arrangements in place for the real No10The new Makerfield MP - who has returned to the House of Commons after a nine-year absence - has frequently criticised the concentration of power in London.When he quit Westminster in 2016 to campaign to become Greater Manchester mayor, Mr Burnham claimed 'voters have a problem with an out-of-touch elite who don't seem to care'.Moving part of his Downing Street operation away from Westminster would be similar to Tory former chancellor Rishi Sunak's decision to create a new Treasury hub in Darlington.One person briefed on Mr Burnham's plans told the Financial Times: 'Andy has big plans on devolution and that includes having an office in the North.'
