Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham proposed creating a permanent “Number 10 North” during a major speech in Manchester on June 28 [1].
The proposal represents a significant challenge to the traditional centralization of British power. By shifting authority away from London, Burnham aims to revitalize regional economies and reform the national political structure.
Burnham, the former Greater Manchester Mayor, argued that the current system of governance is failing. He said, “Westminster is broken.” He said that the creation of a regional power hub would allow the government to do things differently and fix politics [1].
The “Number 10 North” concept would involve handing greater powers to England’s regions to reduce the central role of Westminster [2]. Burnham said, “I want a permanent ‘Number 10 North’ with greater powers handed to England’s regions” [3].
This policy is framed as a method to achieve economic renewal and fulfill the “levelling up” agenda. According to Burnham, devolving power is the primary mechanism to drive this growth, and improve the overall quality of devolution across the country [1, 2].
The speech marks Burnham's first major policy intervention in the leadership race. He positioned the move as a necessary step to address the disconnect between the central government and the needs of people living outside the capital [1].
Burnham emphasized that the shift is not merely administrative but a fundamental change in how the country is led. He said that regional empowerment is the only way to ensure that economic renewal reaches all parts of England [1, 3].
“Westminster is broken.”
The proposal to establish a 'Number 10 North' signals a shift toward formal regionalism within the Labour Party's leadership contest. If implemented, it would move the UK closer to a devolved model similar to those seen in Scotland or Wales, potentially permanently altering the constitutional balance between the central government in London and the English regions.
