Overview
- Andy Burnham used a major speech on Monday to propose a “No 10 North” in Manchester as the centre of a 10‑year programme to move decision‑making and budgets from Whitehall to regional leaders.
- His agenda promises greater public control of water, housing, energy and transport, a large council housebuilding drive, cuts to London fares and the relocation of thousands of civil service roles to cities such as York, Darlington and Manchester.
- Senior figures including Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Tory grandee Lord Michael Heseltine publicly welcomed the plan and regional mayors praised Burnham’s local record.
- Critics and street‑level voters said the proposals are light on costings and operational detail, with commentators warning devolution alone may not solve Britain’s deeper growth and administrative challenges.
- Burnham is the presumptive prime minister and faces immediate tests before he takes office, including naming a chancellor, setting clear fiscal numbers to reassure markets, and translating mayoral‑scale delivery into national government practice.