No10 in the North: a new era?
Andy Burnham, hotly tipped to be Britain’s next PM, just gave his biggest speech yet in Manchester to outline his potential premiership, including the idea of a No 10 office in the North”.
Burnham states that he would ensure the decentralisation of government through devolution, and move key government operations to Manchester as a part of utilising developed regions in the country. If this does happen, it would be the biggest change to modern-day politics, with London and the South no longer holding all the political power. A realignment of power to the North, as well as the East and other regions, would be incredibly beneficial in recruiting bright minds across the country to work on key policies that impact these areas (helping to combat the brain drain). Who better to provide insight than those who live there?
In addition, bringing power here would equalise the playing field, showcasing how it isn’t just London and the South that deserve investment and opportunity. An office in the North symbolises that every part of the country is instrumental in its success, especially Manchester.
As a Manc, I saw Burnham advocate for Northern payouts during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Boris Johnson was PM and refusing to offer more support to cities like Manchester and Liverpool. His work was fundamental in securing a better deal for Manchester at a very uncertain point in history.
Burnham making this pledge is a game-changer, the biggest act of devolution we have ever seen. Politics would be within reach and sight for those not able to live in the orbit of London. Opportunities would be made for people like me to live and work in Manchester whilst still having a pivotal role in the running of government.
Of course, Burnham has not been made PM yet, and it stands to be seen if this pledge will materialise. But if it does - the amount of doors it could open for people could be unprecedented, and exactly the kind of change we need to make politics not only seem accessible, but prove it in action.
Burnham declined to answer questions from journalists and therefore did not receive any scrutiny or challenge of his policies. Interestingly, this information is all we have and so we do not know more about implementation and scale.
Politics needs to be working for the majority, and not the elite 1% living in one area of the country.
Could Burnham really be the change Britain needs?
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