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

The Guardian Politics Thursday 02 July 2026, 05:00 UTC By Hannah Al-Othman and Priya Bharadia 1 min read

Key Points

Plan to move part of Whitehall to Manchester wins praise but would involve major logistical challenges and costs‘It’s a stellar idea’: readers on Andy Burnham’s No 10 North plansIt 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...

Plan to move part of Whitehall to Manchester wins praise but would involve major logistical challenges and costs

‘It’s a stellar idea’: readers on Andy Burnham’s No 10 North plans

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.

Burnham’s (ORG) Whitehall (LOCATION) Manchester (LOCATION) Andy Burnham’s (PERSON) Sankeys (ORG) Ancoats (PERSON) British (ORG) Argos (LOCATION) JD Sports (ORG) Andy Burnham (PERSON)

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

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