No 10 North is set to pull senior ministers and aides into Manchester, with work there expected to expand as the new branch takes shape.
No 10 North is set to become a regular workplace for senior ministers and aides close to Andy Burnham, as the new Manchester base grows into a central part of his plans. The prime minister has described the project as the “dominant driver of the UK’s economy,” and key figures are expected to work there alongside Burnham.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Louise Haigh, who is overseeing No 10 North in her role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, are among those likely to spend time there. The operation is currently being run from Heron House in Manchester city centre while a brownfield site is redeveloped. A blueprint from the think tank Re:State recommends building the staff to as many as 300 within 18 months.
Burnham plans to base himself at No 10 North for at least one day a week and is expected to begin working there in the coming days. He will be joined by his closest adviser, Kevin Lee, the director of his mayoral office, after next week’s Greater Manchester mayoral election. Lee is one of at least seven Greater Manchester Combined Authority employees, including four senior managers, who have already been recruited and are moving into the new set-up.
“No 10 North is set to pull senior ministers and aides into Manchester, with work there expected to expand as the new branch takes shape.”
Among those shifting roles are Caroline Simpson, who is moving to become Downing Street Deputy Chief of Staff based at No 10 North, along with directors John Wrathmell and Claire Norman. But the plans have also stirred unease inside Whitehall, where some London-based civil servants have raised concerns about uncertainty over the move and say more detail is still expected in the weeks ahead.
Before Burnham became prime minister, senior officials were reportedly called to meetings telling them that a major push to move staff out of London was being developed. A senior civil servant familiar with the talks said those on leave were told the plan would already be under way when they returned. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, welcomed the structural change but said relocation was a major step for staff, especially with the risk that a future government could reverse course. Dr Simon Kaye, who authored the Re:State report, said No 10 North would need enough scale and purpose to survive beyond the Burnham administration. The takeaway is simple: this North of England base is meant to be more than symbolism, and its success will be judged by whether it can last.
Frequently asked questions
Who is expected to work at No 10 North?
Education Secretary Lucy Powell, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, and Louise Haigh are among those likely to spend time there alongside Andy Burnham.
Where is No 10 North operating from right now?
It is currently being run from Heron House in Manchester city centre while a brownfield site is redeveloped.
How often will Andy Burnham work there?
Burnham plans to base himself at No 10 North for at least one day a week.
What concerns have been raised about the plan?
Some London-based civil servants have worried about uncertainty over the move, and others said more detail is still expected in the coming weeks.
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