Senior Ministers Shift to Manchester No 10 North as Plan Targets 300 Staff in 18 Months
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 23
Senior Ministers Shift to Manchester No 10 North as Plan Targets 300 Staff in 18 Months
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 23
Summary
Heron House in Manchester is already hosting No 10 North, where Lucy Powell, Angela Rayner and Louise Haigh are expected to work regularly alongside aides close to Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
A Re:State blueprint envisions up to 300 staff within 18 months, while Burnham plans to base himself there at least one day a week and begin working from the site within days.
At least seven Greater Manchester Combined Authority employees — including adviser Kevin Lee, chief executive Caroline Simpson and other senior managers — are moving into the new Downing Street branch.
London-based civil servants have raised concerns over relocation, job access and whether the reorganisation will endure, with union chief Dave Penman warning that moving out of London is a major decision.
The Manchester hub is central to Burnham's push to shift power from London, but officials and analysts say it must reach critical mass and attract ministers consistently to prove it is more than a gimmick.