New No 10 North plan will rebalance power in Britain, Burnham promises

A new Downing Street team based in Manchester and labelled 'No 10 North' will "oversee the biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen", Andy Burnham has said in his first speech since launching a bid to be the next prime minister. In a speech which outlined his broader vision, he pledged to redistribute power across the UK in an effort to "drive good growth in every postcode". He also promised the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period; a "complete rethink" of education and cuts to welfare. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Burnham backed devolution because he "doesn't know what to do so he wants to pass the problem to someone else". Burnham announced his intention to stand as prime minister to replace Sir Keir Starmer last Monday, shortly after being elected as the MP for Makerfield. So far, he is the only Labour MP to announce, and if he remains the sole candidate he could become the next prime minister as early as 20 July. Speaking at the People's History Museum, Burnham addressed an audience which included Steve Rotheram, Tracy Brabin and Oliver Coppard - his former mayoral colleagues from Liverpool, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshir