London (AFP) – UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham formally opened his newly created northern office on Friday, promising "a different way of running Britain" as he bids to reverse decades of centralising power over England in London.
Issued on: 24/07/2026 - 14:44
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Unveiling No 10 North in the northwestern city of Manchester, Burnham -- who replaced Keir Starmer as premier on Monday -- pledged power would "flow" away from London's Whitehall governing district to spur economic growth."It's not just a new office," he told staff at the city centre site, flanked by senior officials including new finance minister John Healey."This is the place where Whitehall meets the rest of the country."The former Greater Manchester mayor says the thriving city-region -- which has outscored Britain's national performance in various areas, including economic growth -- provides a model for other parts of the country.He aims to work from No 10 North at least one day a week, dismissing criticism it was a "short-lived gimmick"."It creates that sense of a more balanced country and that big things can be done from here," Burnham insisted, while conceding power would "always be concentrated" in the capital. Devolution experts appear unconvinced.'De-concentration' is "something done in even very centralised states and in itself doesn't signify any transfer of power", academic and policy adviser Alan Trench told AFP. "At most, it transfers public sector jobs and the lives and incomes of those who hold them."'Badly needed'The UK -- comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland -- saw significant constitutional reforms in the late 1990s that created devolved parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.London also obtained a directly elected mayor and scrutinising assembly.But England itself remains one of Europe's most centralised nations despite the creation of some regional mayors and other bodies in the last decade, experts say.
