On a rainy morning in Manchester in late June 2026, Andy Burnham stood up and promised to move the centre of British politics northwards. The man who is almost certainly about to become the next prime minister announced plans for a 'No. 10 North' – a political nerve centre in Manchester that he says will bring about 'the biggest rebalancing of power' the country has seen. It was a bold vision, but hedged with caution: he insisted he would not take risks with the public finances.
So what is happening? Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, is on the verge of becoming prime minister. This follows the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer in June 2026, who – like his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss – lost the capacity to viably govern when his own MPs lost faith in him. Burnham is expected to take office in three weeks, in mid-July 2026. His central pitch is devolution: pushing power away from Westminster to regions across the UK. In his first major speech as prime minister-in-waiting, he promised that a new 'No. 10 North' in Manchester would make power flow away from the centre to British regions.
“Explains Andy Burnham's 'No. 10 North' devolution plan and his path to becoming prime minister.”
To understand why this is happening, you need to look at the collapse of Starmer's government. The prime minister's downfall was not caused by a single scandal or economic crisis, but by a slow unravelling that began almost as soon as Labour won the general election in July 2024. Within the first three months, there were rows over freebies (dubbed 'passes for glasses'), a public briefing war that led to the removal of his first chief of staff, Sue Gray, and a controversial cancellation of the winter fuel payment for pensioners – a decision that was later reversed. Then, just over a year ago, Starmer was forced into a humiliating climbdown on planned changes to the benefits system, which Labour MPs realised meant they could push the government around. The final blow came from the saga of appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington – Mandelson was sacked in September 2025, but the row dragged on for months. Key figures like Morgan McSweeney (Starmer's long-time aide) and communications director Tim Allan resigned, and MPs grew increasingly vocal in their discontent. By June 2026, Starmer had no choice but to step down.
Into this void steps Andy Burnham, a politician who has long harboured prime ministerial ambitions. He is known for revelling in the public stage – comfortable in front of cameras, confident in ad-libbing, and passionate about setting out his vision. But critics note that he has changed his mind on issues such as the Waspi women campaign, the government's borrowing rules, and trans rights. However, his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester has allowed him to develop and road test a political outlook centred on devolution. He even co-authored a book, 'Head North', with the Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, laying out his ideas.
Why does this matter for UK readers? If Burnham becomes prime minister and follows through on his 'No. 10 North' plan, it could mean a significant shift in how the country is governed. Power would move away from London and Whitehall to regions like Greater Manchester, potentially giving local leaders more control over economic policy, transport, health, and education. Burnham argues this would boost economic growth – but he has also promised not to take risks with the public finances, meaning any changes may come slowly. The plan is still vague on details, but it represents the most radical devolution proposal from a prospective prime minister in decades. For readers in the North of England, it could mean more decisions made closer to home. For those in the South, it might mean a smaller role for Westminster in their daily lives.
Q: How does Andy Burnham's 'No. 10 North' plan work? A: Burnham wants to create a new prime ministerial office in Manchester, which he calls 'No. 10 North'. This would serve as a political 'nerve centre' to push power away from Westminster to British regions. The goal is to rebalance the UK's political geography, but he has not yet set out specific policies or a timeline.
Q: Why did Keir Starmer resign? A: Starmer resigned in June 2026 after a series of political crises – including rows over freebies, a botched benefits reform, the Mandelson ambassadorship saga, and a loss of confidence among his own MPs – which collectively made it impossible for him to govern effectively.
Q: What is devolution and why does it matter? A: Devolution is the transfer of power from central government (Westminster) to regional or local bodies. It matters because it can give local areas more control over decisions on transport, housing, health, and economic development. Burnham's 'No. 10 North' would be a major expansion of devolution, potentially reshaping how the UK is run.
What happens next? Andy Burnham is expected to become prime minister in mid-July 2026. Once in office, he will need to flesh out his devolution plan and begin implementing it. He has promised caution on public finances, so the biggest changes may take years. But with his first major speech already setting out a radical vision, the country could be in for a significant shift in how power is distributed.