Andy Burnham promises regional power shift and new "No. 10 North" if he becomes UK prime minister

Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer as UK prime minister, said he would transfer greater authority to local leaders and relocate part of the prime minister’s office to northwest England. In a speech at Manchester’s People’s History Museum, he outlined a ten-year strategy aimed at delivering "good growth in every postcode" and described the new Manchester-based office, dubbed "No. 10 North," as the "nerve centre of a rewired Britain."

Burnham argued that economic growth must be nurtured from the bottom up and criticised centralised decision-making. He said regional mayors would gain more control over housing, welfare and education, and that his approach, termed "Manchesterism," would combine public and private investment in transport, housing and infrastructure while reforming water and energy utilities.

The former Greater Manchester mayor, who was elected to Parliament in June, has not yet detailed how the government would fund the proposed initiatives and declined to take questions from reporters.

If unchallenged in the Labour leadership contest, Burnham could become prime minister by late July, inheriting challenges such as a sluggish economy, strained public services and pressure to increase defence spending in line with NATO commitments.

"Andy Burnham’s big idea is to shuffle power between politicians," said Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake, adding that the plan does not address welfare reforms, tax cuts or defence funding.