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U.K.’s Burnham Opens ‘No10 North’ to Shift Economic Power From London
Police are guarding the interim Number 10 North site as officials plan a northern base with about 300 staff within 18 months.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham launched the interim No 10 North office at Heron House in Manchester, with ministers already working from the site to rebalance political power in Britain.
Burnham described the initiative as the "engine room of devolution," aiming to shift power from Westminster to every postcode while insisting the project is "not a gimmick."
Lords Leader Baroness Smith of Basildon announced the new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet will lead this hub, with officials expecting around 300 staff employed within 18 months.
Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo will lead the OPMC, overseeing teams directly serving the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as Mr Burnham expects to work from the Manchester office at least one day a week.
While the government positions the hub as a "dominant driver" of the economy, policy researcher Simon Kaye warns the initiative must avoid becoming "a road to larger and more complex central government" rather than empowering local areas.