Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a plan to create a new prime-ministerial office in Manchester called “No. 10 North” to shift power from London.
The initiative represents a significant attempt to decentralize the United Kingdom's governance. By establishing a secondary seat of power in the North, the administration aims to address regional inequality and redirect political influence away from the capital.
Burnham, who is the seventh prime minister in a decade [1], first detailed the plan during his speech as prime-minister-in-waiting on June 29, 2026 [3]. He said the office will help “rewire Britain” by decentralizing government power to the regions and delivering “good growth in every part of the country” [2].
The office will be located in Manchester city centre, specifically near Piccadilly Station [4]. While a permanent building for No. 10 North is not expected to be completed until 2028 [1], the administration is currently seeking temporary office space within the city to begin operations.
“We will create a new prime minister’s office based in Manchester, called ‘No. 10 North’,” Burnham said [2]. He said that he intends to spend time at the Manchester location while serving as prime minister [4].
“No 10 North will be at the centre of a rewired Britain,” Burnham said [2]. The move is intended to serve as a symbolic and practical break from the traditional concentration of authority in London, a strategy designed to foster economic development across the UK's various regions.
““No 10 North will be at the centre of a rewired Britain.””
The creation of No. 10 North is a strategic move to combat the 'North-South divide' that has long characterized British politics and economics. By physically relocating the prime minister's presence to Manchester, the government is signaling a shift toward regionalism. The success of this plan will likely depend on whether the office holds actual decision-making authority or remains a symbolic gesture of devolution.
