Whitehall officials offered move to No 10 North in Manchester
The UK government is establishing 'No 10 North' in Manchester, with officials being offered relocation packages to move from London. This initiative, supported by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, aims to decentralize government power and recruit talent from Northern England.
Why it matters
This represents a significant attempt to rebalance political and administrative power away from London, potentially impacting regional economic development in the North.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Construction of the Digital Campus in Manchester will not be completed before 2032
Civil servants based in central London have been offered relocation packages to encourage them to move to the North of England, the BBC understands.
A new branch of Downing Street - known as No 10 North - is already up and running, according to a source close to new PM Andy Burnham.
The initial location will be Heron House in central Manchester, in the same building which houses offices for the intelligence service GCHQ. Specialist police officers have been seen guarding the building.
It is likely that the longer term base for No 10 North will be at a new government "Digital Campus" which is under construction in the Ancoats area of Manchester. It is not due for completion until 2032.
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