Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to become Britain's next prime minister, has promised to open a new Downing Street office in Manchester called 'No 10 North', which he says will 'oversee the biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen'. In a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester, Burnham said his plans would 'drive good growth in every postcode' by devolving power away from Whitehall to local communities. But what exactly is devolution, and why does it matter?
Devolution is the transfer of powers and decision-making from central government to regional or local bodies. In the UK, it has already happened in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where elected parliaments and assemblies control areas like health, education and transport. Burnham wants to extend this to England's regions, giving them more control over 'essential services' such as water, energy and transport, and allowing London more say over education and housing. His proposal includes a new 'No 10 North' unit in Manchester to support regions with reform of utilities, reindustrialisation and regeneration.
“Explains devolution, Burnham's 'No 10 North' plan, and the arguments for and against.”
The idea of decentralising power has deep historical roots. The New Statesman points out that England was forged through centralisation—starting with King Athelstan's unification of the kingdoms in the 10th century. Centralised government, from the Norman parliament to the British Empire, created one of the most powerful states in Europe. However, critics argue that this top-down model has led to regional inequalities. Burnham himself says Whitehall has 'blocked' progress in Manchester. The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, however, accused Burnham of backing devolution because he 'doesn't know what to do so he wants to pass the problem to someone else'.
For UK readers, the debate matters because it could change how public services are run and where tax money is spent. If regions gain more control, decisions about housing, transport and utilities could be made locally rather than in Westminster. Supporters, like the IPPR North thinktank, argue this could boost economic growth and address the 'north-south divide'. Critics, including conservative commentator Henry Hill, question whether devolution solves Britain's problems or just shifts them. The New Statesman warns that creating new strategic centres within England could lead to competition and fragmentation, rather than unity.
Q: What is devolution? Devolution is the transfer of power from central government to regional or local bodies. In the UK, it has been applied to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is now being proposed for English regions under Andy Burnham's plans.
Q: How would 'No 10 North' work? Burnham's plan would create a new Downing Street team based in Manchester to coordinate devolution, helping regions reform utilities, reindustrialise and regenerate. It would also give areas more control over services like water, energy and transport.
Q: What are the arguments for and against devolution? Supporters say it drives local growth and gives communities more say. Critics argue it could create fragmentation, with regions competing for resources, and question whether it addresses underlying issues like productivity or public service funding.
What happens next? Burnham is the only Labour MP so far to announce his candidacy for prime minister, and if he remains alone, he could take office as early as 20 July. He has not yet provided a detailed plan or taken questions on his proposals. The debate over devolution is likely to intensify as the country approaches this potential constitutional shift.