Burnham discusses giving deputy PM role over Manchester-based Number 10 North

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Burnham on Manchester No.10 North

Highlights

Burnham is considering appointing the next deputy prime minister to lead the planned Number 10 North office in Manchester for national growth policy.
Uncertainty remains over cabinet appointments and whether the deputy prime minister will be based in Manchester as Burnham begins transition talks with civil service chief Dame Antonia Romeo.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has invited English mayors to a July 13 Treasury event in Darlington to discuss fiscal devolution and further local powers under her March agenda.

Manchester unit’s structure and leadership

As reported by Financial Times, Burnham is discussing whether the next deputy prime minister should take political charge of his planned "Number 10 North" office in Manchester, according to people close to the talks. The proposal is intended to give the new body greater weight as Burnham seeks to make it a national growth unit focused on redistributing power and resources across the country.

Burnham is expected to spend several days a month at the Manchester site, while Caroline Simpson, chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, has been lined up to run the office. People involved in devolution work say Simpson is well regarded for delivery in local government, but argue the unit would still need a senior minister to provide political leadership and help drive Burnham’s agenda through government.

Burnham has not yet named his cabinet, leaving uncertainty in Whitehall even as transition talks begin between the incoming prime minister and civil service chief Dame Antonia Romeo. A spokesperson for Burnham says Number 10 North would be driven by the prime minister and his team, adding that no decision has been made on whether his deputy would be based in Manchester.

Labour positioning and devolution agenda

Lucy Powell, Labour’s elected deputy leader and an MP for Manchester, is seen as a leading candidate for deputy prime minister and would be well placed to work from the northern office. Insiders also speculate that Ed Miliband could take the role if Burnham does not appoint him chancellor, while some people close to Burnham play down the chances of Angela Rayner returning to the post after resigning from it under Sir Keir Starmer.

Sir David Lidington, who served as Conservative deputy prime minister under Theresa May, says Burnham would need a trusted senior figure in Number 10 North to manage relations with ministers, MPs, mayors and councillors, including those from opposition parties. He argues Burnham would not have time to handle those political demands alone and would need someone able to broker compromises and exercise delegated authority on his behalf.

At the same time, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has invited English mayors to a July 13 away day in northern England on fiscal devolution, to be held at the Treasury’s northern campus in Darlington. In the invitation, the Treasury says Reeves wants to update regional leaders on engagement with stakeholders after setting out her fiscal devolution agenda in her March Mais Lecture, and to discuss what powers mayors need to make a difference in their areas.

Our earlier article on Andy Burnham’s economic blueprint for an incoming government outlined plans to ease household costs, support high-street firms, and maintain fiscal discipline while expanding housebuilding. It also highlighted Burnham’s emphasis on regional growth and greater public control across sectors such as energy, water and transport—setting the context for his push to institutionalise devolution through initiatives like a stronger northern centre of government.

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