Burnham’s No 10 North: could two-centre government be made to work?

It first found fame as the centre of Manchester’s textile industry and later as the home of celebrated nightclub Sankeys. But now Ancoats, on the northern edge of Manchester city centre, could become the somewhat unexpected heart of British government.

The site of a disused retail park, which was once home to Toys R Us, Argos and JD Sports, has been earmarked to host the new No 10 North that prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham has pledged to set up.

The plans are for parts of Whitehall to be shifted to the new Manchester Digital Campus, which is being constructed on the site of the former retail park, and which will bring together about 8,800 civil servants from multiple government departments.

It is believed that as the project is still in its infancy, any “No 10” buildings could be constructed without significant cost above that already signed off by the Treasury.

Once largely derelict, Ancoats is now one of Manchester’s hippest suburbs, packed with restaurants and bars, many centred on the city’s only serviced marina. Property prices in the area have soared in recent years – and are likely to be only further accelerated by the government moving in.

However, the new development is not due to be fully completed until 2032 and, in the interim, Burnham’s team are said to be looking for other office space in Manchester.

One source said they have set their sights on Heron House, a building owned by Manchester city council, and currently occupied by GCHQ. It is understood that GCHQ has no plans to vacate the building.

Burnham, newly elected as the MP for Makerfield, has said that if he becomes prime minister he will split his working week between Manchester and London.

Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said at an event in London on Wednesday that he “liked the idea of a No 10 North” and pointed to the Treasury’s Darlington Economic Campus.

“When I was at the Treasury, it worked really well and continues to operate very well,” he said, adding that local leaders “actually get together more with government there than they would have done previously”.

Henri Murison, the chief executive at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, also welcomed the idea, saying: “For too long, Whitehall and the wider political establishment have allowed an economic chasm to open up between Greater London and the UK’s other major cities.

“The requirement for ministers to vote in parliament in person inevitably limits the time they can spend in departmental offices outside Whitehall.

“The prime minister-in-waiting is right not to let that stand in the way of his ambitions.

“There is no need to start from scratch either – Manchester already has suitable government office space, with more becoming available, that could provide an immediate home for No 10 North and its team.”

However, having a two-centre government would not be without its logistical challenges.

Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection and a former divisional commander in the Metropolitan police, dubbed Burnham’s Manchester base as “Number 10A”.

“Number 10A will have to be strengthened,” he said, “and, of course, there’ll have to be a 24-hour-7 protection. So it’s going to cost us taxpayers millions in terms of technical security, surveillance, cameras.

“Depending on where it is, it may have to have underground detection systems, it probably will have to have a safe room, and Manchester police will have to bear the burden of protection, in the uniform sense, 24-7, I suspect. So the real cost is many millions of pounds.”

A Greater Manchester police spokesperson said: “We’re aware of evolving proposals to create a No 10 in the North and we will work with necessary departments to create necessary security arrangements as plans evolve.”

Davies also questioned how Burnham would travel, adding: “If he’s going to go backwards and forwards, is he going to have an armoured car, depending on the threat assessment, which normally is very high for the prime minister?”

On a typical weekday afternoon, a good run from Manchester city centre to Westminster would take about four hours. But if there are any traffic problems journey times can be much longer.

Rail expert Tony Miles said it “would be an interesting challenge” for Burnham to commute back and forth by rail without disrupting other passengers.

“He’d want security, spads and minders around him,” he said. “That’s a block of seats taken out of use.”

He also questioned what would happen if Burnham needed to travel at short notice and passengers had booked seats.

He described the idea as “worthy” but said it may be challenging to execute without annoying a lot of passengers – and voters.

However, a snap same-day poll of 100 adults across the UK, commissioned by campaign group 38 Degrees and carried out by JL Partners following Burnham’s speech on Monday, found voters broadly backed moving power away from Westminster.

One female Labour voter in Exeter said she “fully supported” the idea, adding: “People in London need to realise there are other cities in this country that have powerful and strong leaders.”

A female Reform UK voter in Scunthorpe said: “I like the idea of setting something up north as everything is done in London and we don’t all live there. Powers to regions is a positive thing as different areas have different needs.”

A male Labour voter in Stroud also backed the proposals, saying: “There has been too much power in London and not the rest of the country, and doing this will mean investments over the greater part of the UK stopping people feeling left behind.”

However, some had their doubts about the logistics, with one female Labour voter in Leeds saying: “I don’t know how this will work,” while, similarly, a male Labour voter in Edinburgh said: “I think it’s a good idea but I don’t think it will work.”

But in Ancoats, at least, the idea of this corner of Manchester sharing power with London was overwhelmingly welcomed.

“If this is a genuine devolution of power away from Whitehall, if decisions are genuinely being made up here rather than just badged as northern, and if it brings more jobs for Manchester residents and strengthens our local economy, then we welcome it,” said Hussayn Salem, Green councillor for Ancoats and Beswick.

Sanger Ismail, the owner of Bee Barbers, which sits close to the Digital Campus site, said: “I think he’s chosen the best place. It’s a nice community. And it’s got nice, green areas as well. People here are nice, very professional.”

Ismail, based in Ancoats for the past seven years, hoped Burnham may even come in for a trim. “I look forward to seeing him,” he said.

And Chris Northwood, a Liberal Democrat councillor in the ward, said: “When it comes to moving power out of London, we’re very supportive.”

She added: “I’m not at all surprised Ancoats has been floated as an idea – with our wonderful people, food and drink, who wouldn’t want to work from here?

“My question to Andy would be, if he’s bringing No 10 to Ancoats, can the undeveloped second half of the site be your new rose garden but open for the public and residents to use?”