LONDON, England: British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, on Thursday began working from a new government office in Manchester, dubbed ‘No10 North’, as part of his plan to shift economic decision-making away from Westminster and devolve more powers to local authorities, Xinhua reported.
Located at Heron House in central Manchester, the office will serve as the government’s new “situation room for growth”, coordinating work on local economic development and devolution, according to a government statement.
Burnham is expected to work from the office every week, while other ministers will also use it regularly, the statement said.
Describing No10 North as the “situation room for making Britain better,” Burnham said “the days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good”.
On Friday, Burnham will chair the first meeting of the revived National Economic Council at No10 North, bringing together senior ministers and regional mayors to discuss economic growth and the devolution of powers from central government.
Originally established in 2008 in response to the global financial crisis, the council’s membership will vary depending on the issues under discussion and may include business leaders, trade unions and other organisations, the government said. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
