Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened No 10 North in Manchester as the Government’s new situation room for growth, bringing devolution and local economic growth together at the centre of decision-making.
The facility is intended to coordinate policy, investment and delivery across government departments with a focus on the regions, ensuring that decisions about jobs, infrastructure and opportunity are not taken in isolation from the places they affect.
Writing for The Guardian, Mr Burnham said the project was “not just a No 10 in the north” but an engine for growth throughout the whole United Kingdom.
The Manchester Evening News reported that the Prime Minister declared Manchester’s Number 10 North open as part of a visit to the city, with senior ministers including Angela Rayner joining discussions on the government’s economic priorities.
Government published a machinery of government fact sheet alongside the launch, setting out how the new centre fits into wider plans to strengthen regional decision-making and accelerate investment.
Labour figures said No 10 North symbolises a break from decades of over-centralisation, putting practical delivery and regional leadership at the heart of the Burnham government’s economic strategy.
