Andy Burnham, Labour MP for Makerfield, delivered a live policy speech in Manchester on Monday outlining a new devolution plan for the UK [1].
The address serves as a platform for the former Greater Manchester mayor to present his agenda as a prospective prime ministerial candidate. By proposing a structural shift in how the country is governed, Burnham is challenging the traditional centralization of power in London.
Burnham proposed the creation of a "No 10 of the North," which he described as a new centre of power located in Manchester [2]. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to decentralize government authority and ensure that regional leaders have more control over their local economies.
Central to his vision is a commitment to widespread economic improvement. "We will deliver good growth in every British postcode," Burnham said [3].
He further detailed a 10-year mission [4] aimed at raising living standards for all families. According to Burnham, this long-term goal will be achieved through a combination of re-industrialization, housing initiatives, and infrastructure development [5].
The speech, which was scheduled for 2 p.m. BST [6], focused on the intersection of economic growth and regional autonomy. Burnham said the current system fails to distribute prosperity evenly across the country — a gap he intends to close through his proposed reforms.
Burnham said the mission is designed to ensure that the benefits of growth are not confined to the capital but reach every part of the United Kingdom [3].
“I am proposing a No 10 of the North – a new centre of power in Manchester.”
Burnham's proposal represents a significant push for regionalism within the Labour Party. By linking economic re-industrialization to a physical shift in political power, he is attempting to pivot the national conversation toward 'levelling up' through structural governance changes rather than just fiscal investment.
