UK’s Andy Burnham, nation’s likely next leader, promises ‘number 10 north’

Andy Burnham, Britain’s presumptive next prime minister, has set out details giving more powers to local government as part of a plan to spread wealth and economic growth.Saying Westminster “is not working” and is “broken”, he set out a sweeping economic vision in a key speech from Manchester – where he was mayor for nine years – to bring voters, colleagues and financial markets up to speed with his ideas during his rapid progress towards power.He set out a 10-year vision for “good growth in every postcode” in a country where wealth and power are concentrated in London and the south of England, saying places would no longer be “forgotten” or “written off”.“Place first, not party first. Problem solving not point scoring. Long term not short term,” he said, pledging to raise the living standards of everyone.Andy Burnham hopes to replicate nationally the approach he took in Manchester, where he harnessed private and public money to invest in transport, housing and infrastructure. Photo: APDuring the speech, Burnham outlined plans to move part of his prime ministerial operation to the England" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="154748" data-entity-type="location">Northwest England city, saying Number 10 north “will be the nerve centre”.