It’s not just a No 10 in the north, it’s an engine for growth throughout the whole UK | Andy Burnham

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Power has been too centralised in Britain and tackling that is key to progress and prosperity. This initiative is ambitious: we’re remaking the state</p><ul><li><p>Andy Burnham is prime minister of the United Kingdom</p></li></ul><p>On Monday, while the cameras were fixed on that famous black door in Downing Street, something important was happening 165 miles away. A small team of officials and advisers were walking into an office building in Manchester to set about the remaking of the British state.</p><p>This was the beginning of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/02/burnhams-no-10-north-could-two-centre-government-be-made-to-work">No 10 North</a>: the first major act of this government and what I hope will be seen as its most defining.</p><p>Andy Burnham is the prime minister of the United Kingdom</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/23/number-10-north-growth-uk-andy-burnham">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.