No. 10 North
Proposed British political unit
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No. 10 North is a proposal by Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Andy Burnham to move part of the British Prime Minister's Office (No. 10 Downing Street) from London to Manchester in the North of England.[1][2] The Guardian newspaper has reported that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Chief Executive, Caroline Simpson, would head No. 10 North as Burnham's Downing Street Deputy Chief of Staff.[3][4]
Context
Andy Burnham became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2026. He previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester between 2017 and 2026. He now also serves as Member of Parliament for Makerfield following his victory in the 2026 Makerfield by-election.[1]
He made the No. 10 North proposal on 29 June 2026, during a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester; his first major speech since the previous Prime Minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer's announcement that he would resign.[3][5] He did not take questions from journalists after the speech.[5]
Proposal
Burnham described his plan as being to "oversee the biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen".[1] He said that No. 10 North would be the "nerve centre of a rewired Britain".[3]
Burnham set out three "clear tasks" for No. 10 North:
- To increase public ownership of essential utilities such as water, energy and housing;
- To re-industrialise swathes of the country;
- To regenerate towns, prioritising places that had been left behind.[3]
Burnham intends to remain living in Manchester if made Prime Minister. He also will spend at least one day a week working from No. 10 North.[5][6]
No. 10 North is planned to be located at the Manchester Digital Campus, currently under construction on a brownfield site off Great Ancoats Street, New Islington.[7][8] In the meantime, Burnham's team is searching for an interim location which will be announced "in due course".[7][9]
The Guardian newspaper has reported that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Chief Executive, Caroline Simpson, would head No. 10 North as Burnham's Downing Street Deputy Chief of Staff.[3][4]
Andy Burnham has additionally proposed the creation of a devolution department which would also be based in Manchester.[10]
Reaction
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, criticised the proposal, saying, "if you have a No. 10 in the south and a No. 10 in the north, they will naturally fight against each other".[1]
The SNP Westminster leader, Dave Doogan, said there was "nothing of substance for Scotland in these proposals".[1]