Andy Burnham has announced plans for a new Downing Street team based in Manchester, dubbed 'No 10 North,' which he claims will orchestrate the most significant rebalancing of power in the UK's history. The proposal is central to his broader vision for driving "good growth in every postcode" across the nation.

Burnham, who recently launched a bid to become the next prime minister, presented 'No 10 North' as a key mechanism to shift authority away from senior civil servants in London. He argued that the current centralized system has hindered progress, stating that "growth cannot be ordered from the top down - it can only be nurtured from the bottom up."

The plan aims to redistribute power to local communities, potentially giving regions greater control over essential services such as water, energy, and transport. Burnham also suggested that London might cede some decision-making authority on education and housing. The initiative is intended to provide a "circuit-breaker" for the country by empowering regions.

'No 10 North' would focus on supporting regions in three key areas: reforming essential utilities, driving reindustrialization, and spearheading regeneration efforts. Burnham indicated that the plan could extend devolution to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, recognizing that people in these areas may feel as distant from their devolved administrations as they do from Westminster.

This announcement follows Labour's 2024 manifesto commitment to expand devolution to new areas and strengthen it in existing mayoral and combined authority regions. In February 2025, plans were announced for new mayors in several English regions, including Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Burnham's approach, suggesting he backs devolution because he "doesn't know what to do so he wants to pass the problem to someone else." Burnham made these remarks in his first speech since announcing his candidacy to replace Sir Keir Starmer as leader, having been elected MP for Makerfield.

Speaking at the People's History Museum, Burnham addressed an audience that included former mayoral colleagues. While he outlined the general direction of his potential government, he did not provide specific details on how power would be devolved to different areas. Notably, the speech concluded without a question-and-answer session.

Burnham's vision also includes a commitment to the "biggest council house building programme since the post-war period," alongside a "complete rethink of education and cuts to welfare." The 'No 10 North' plan is positioned as the primary tool to achieve his overarching goal of nationwide economic rebalancing.