UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham opens "No. 10 North" office in Manchester

Britain’s prime minister, Andy Burnham, opened a new government office in Manchester on Friday, branding it "No. 10 North" and describing it as a "fundamental change to the way the country thinks about growth and investment." The low-rise building, located about 165 miles from Westminster, will host a full-time staff of aides, experts and civil servants, and Burnham said he will work there at least one day a week.

The initiative is intended to decentralise authority, giving mayors a larger share of income and business tax revenue from their areas – what Burnham called the "biggest transfer of power, funding and responsibility from Westminster in a generation." Details on the exact funding levels have not yet been released.

University of Manchester political-science professor Rob Ford noted that the move reflects Burnham’s desire to reduce the concentration of fiscal and decision-making power in London, though he cautioned that implementing such reforms will be a substantial challenge.

Supporters welcomed the new office. Rose Marley, chief executive of Cooperatives UK, said it was "refreshing" that stakeholders would no longer need to travel to London for meetings and likened the impact to the BBC’s relocation of some productions to Salford. Local resident Sam Turner, a nursing lecturer, argued that regional differences in housing, land values and salaries justify greater autonomy for the north.

Critics questioned whether the Manchester hub will benefit the whole country. Ford warned that residents of other northern cities might view the office as Manchester-centric, and some observers described the project as a political gimmick. Visitor Lesley Lebbon suggested that additional regional offices could be needed to ensure balanced representation across the east and west of England.