UK PM Starmer Opens 'No.10 North' in Manchester to Boost Devolution

London (ANTARA) - UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Thursday (23/7) began working from a new government office in Manchester, dubbed “No.10 North”, as part of his plan to shift economic decision-making away from Westminster and give greater authority to local governments.

Located at Heron House in central Manchester, the office will serve as the government’s new “situation room for growth”, coordinating work related to regional economic development and devolution, according to a government statement.

Burnham is expected to work from the office each week, while other ministers will also make regular use of it, the statement said.

Describing No.10 North as “a situation room for making Britain better”, Burnham declared that “the days when Whitehall stood in the way of devolution are over, forever”.

On Friday (24/7), Burnham will chair the first meeting of the UK’s National Economic Council at No.10 North. The meeting of the reactivated council will be attended by senior ministers and regional mayors to discuss economic growth and the devolution of powers from central government.

Originally established in 2008 in response to the global financial crisis, the council’s membership will vary depending on the issue under discussion and may include business leaders, trade unions and other organisations, according to the UK government.