Andy Burnham to Outline 'No10 North' Devolution Plan in Manchester Speech

The Independent reported that Andy Burnham will deliver his first major leadership speech at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the People’s History Museum in Manchester. The former Greater Manchester mayor, who won the Makerfield by-election earlier this month and was sworn in as MP, will propose creation of a 'No10 North' office in Manchester.

The office would drive devolution and coordinate long-term economic renewal across every nation and region of the UK, according to Burnham’s team. Burnham will argue for the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times and commit to a 10-year mission to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure and reform of essential utilities.

The speech will call for reform of public procurement to maximise support for British jobs and industry while securing work placements and apprenticeships.

It will also set out major reform of the education system to ensure parity between academic and technical routes and will begin a response to the Milburn report aimed at reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. Housing secretary Steve Reed stated on Sunday that the plan is not about London subsidising the rest of the nation.

Reed said the approach would benefit the south-east of England if the rest of the country does well and would help ease London’s housing crisis.

Burnham plans to grant regional leaders enhanced authority over social housing, welfare and post-16 education. His team said the address will cover the need for a change in how Britain is governed, not just who governs it, and will set out a vision of 'good growth in every postcode' through a new partnership between government, business, universities and communities.