New PM Burnham announces 'No 10 North' plan to split working time between London and Manchester

Andy Burnham used his first BBC interview as Prime Minister on 20 July 2026 to announce a "No 10 North" presence in Manchester, intending to rebalance power in Britain. No modern Prime Minister has proposed regularly splitting working time between Downing Street and a city over 200 miles away. BBC News reported the plan as a priority alongside continued backing for Ukraine.