On his inaugural day at the newly established No 10 North in Manchester, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the initiative as a pivotal move towards decentralizing power from London. Burnham emphasized that this new office signifies “the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen,” addressing concerns over its financial implications by asserting that it will foster “a more balanced country” where significant national decisions can be taken outside the capital. During a National Economic Council meeting, Burnham expressed that this development marked “the best day of my life,” humorously noting that his wife might hold a different view.
Burnham assured regional mayors that No 10 North would collaborate closely with local leaders to bolster economic growth nationwide. He highlighted that this strategy intends to unify central government and regional authorities into “one team,” eliminating the previous necessity for local leaders to engage with numerous government departments. The establishment of No 10 North is part of a broader governmental effort to decentralize decision-making and encourage economic development across various UK regions.
In other political updates, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner acknowledged the difficulties in meeting the government’s goal of constructing 1.5 million homes during the current Parliament. Despite these challenges, Rayner insisted the objective would not be abandoned. She also dismissed the idea of implementing rent controls, citing that recent reforms in renters’ rights are already impacting the housing market.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) criticized the government’s newly announced cost-of-living measures, which include reduced bus fares, lowered VAT on electricity bills, and business rate relief for pubs and clubs, arguing that these measures fall short of adequately assisting households. Meanwhile, ministers have indicated that a review of the early prisoner release scheme is anticipated in the coming weeks.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on Burnham to adopt a tougher stance against US President Donald Trump following the United States’ imposition of new tariffs on imports from over 80 countries. Davey described Trump as “a bully and an unreliable ally,” urging for a more assertive response from the UK government.