Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester who is on course to become prime minister next month, has pledged to deliver "good growth in every postcode" by overseeing what he calls the "biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times." In his first major policy speech since returning to Westminster as MP for Makerfield, Burnham will argue that decision-making needs to be "pushed to regions and local communities" to drive economic growth and tackle the UK's worst-in-class regional inequality. At the centre of his plan is a "No 10 North" — a new body based in Manchester tasked with coordinating economic policy across the nations and regions. For readers encountering the term for the first time, here is what devolution actually means and why this matters.
Devolution is the transfer of certain powers and responsibilities from the central government in Westminster to local or regional bodies, such as the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, the Northern Ireland Assembly, or city mayors and combined authorities. It is not the same as federalism or full independence; devolved bodies can make laws and decisions in specific areas (like health, education, or transport) but ultimate sovereignty remains with the UK Parliament, which can in theory amend or abolish those bodies. The current devolution settlement was largely shaped by Tony Blair's Labour government in the late 1990s, when Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each gained their own legislatures. In England, devolution has been more piecemeal, with metro mayors like the one Burnham held in Greater Manchester gaining control over areas such as transport, housing, and skills funding. Burnham argues that this process has not gone far enough: the UK still has some of the worst regional economic inequality of any developed country, and political power remains excessively concentrated in London and the South East.
“Explains devolution, Andy Burnham's 'No 10 North' plan, and what it means for UK readers.”
Why does this matter for UK readers? Devolution directly affects how public money is spent and who makes decisions about local services. Burnham's proposals are a response to widespread frustration that Westminster is out of touch with the needs of different regions. If he becomes prime minister, he is expected to push for fiscal devolution — giving local authorities more control over taxes such as business rates — after Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged she had "unfinished business" in this area. This could mean that councils and combined authorities have greater freedom to set their own economic priorities, potentially boosting growth in areas that have historically been left behind. However, Burnham has signalled he would stick to the current fiscal rules that cap borrowing and require debt to fall as a share of national income by 2029-30, limiting room for large new spending. The challenge will be whether more local power can deliver meaningful change within tight national budgets.
Q: What is devolution in simple terms? Devolution is the transfer of some decision-making powers from the central government in Westminster to regional or local bodies, such as the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, or metro mayors. It allows these bodies to pass laws and spend money on issues like health, education, and transport, while the UK Parliament remains sovereign.
Q: How does devolution affect me in England? In England, devolution mostly applies through metro mayors and combined authorities, like the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Where you live may already have a mayor with powers over transport, housing, and skills. Burnham's plan for a "No 10 North" would extend similar powers to more areas, potentially giving your local council or mayor more control over business rates and economic policy.
Q: What is the 'No 10 North'? The 'No 10 North' is a proposed new body, reportedly to be based in Manchester, that would coordinate economic policy across all UK nations and regions. Burnham says it would be part of the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times, driving growth by pushing decision-making closer to local communities.
What happens next? Burnham is expected to become prime minister on 20 July if no other Labour MP stands for leader. In that role, he will face pressure from left-wing MPs to relax fiscal rules for more spending, and from figures like former defence chief Sir Tony Radakin to commit to raising defence investment to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. The government is also due to publish its defence investment plan before a new prime minister succeeds Sir Keir Starmer. Whether Burnham's devolution vision becomes reality will depend on the budget headroom available and the outcome of negotiations with local leaders and his own party.