Andy Burnham has unveiled a plan for a new Downing Street team based in Manchester, dubbed 'No 10 North,' which he claims will orchestrate the most substantial rebalancing of power in Britain's history. The announcement came during his first major speech since declaring his candidacy for the leadership of the Labour Party.

Burnham's vision centers on redistributing authority from senior civil servants in Whitehall to local communities, a move he argues is essential for fostering economic growth nationwide. He stated that growth cannot be dictated from the top down but must be cultivated from the grassroots.

The proposal, outlined at the People's History Museum in Manchester, also includes pledges for the largest council house building program since the post-war era, a significant overhaul of the education system, and welfare reforms. Burnham suggested that regions could gain greater control over essential services like water, energy, and transport, while London might cede influence over education and housing.

This initiative aims to provide a "circuit-breaker" for the country by ensuring power flows across the UK. The 'No 10 North' unit would specifically support regions in three key areas: reforming essential utilities, driving reindustrialization, and promoting regeneration.

Burnham's bid for leadership follows his recent election as the MP for Makerfield. He is currently the only Labour MP to have announced a leadership bid, potentially positioning him for a swift ascension to the top position if he remains the sole candidate. His speech was attended by former mayoral colleagues Steve Rotheram, Tracy Brabin, and Oliver Coppard.

While the specific details of what powers would be devolved to which areas were not elaborated upon, Burnham indicated that devolution could extend to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with a goal of bringing power "deeper down." He noted that citizens in places like Dundee and Bangor feel as disconnected from their devolved administrations as they do from Westminster.

The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, criticized Burnham's focus on devolution, suggesting it stems from an inability to address issues directly, opting instead to pass problems to others. Labour's 2024 manifesto did include commitments to expand devolution to new areas and strengthen existing mayoral combined authorities.

This plan echoes earlier governmental efforts to decentralize power. In February 2025, Angela Rayner announced plans for new mayoralties in several English regions, including Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton, signaling a broader trend toward empowering local governance.