Burnham’s No 10 North ‘will be based on brownfield site on edge of Manchester’

Andy Burnham's planned "No 10 North" government base will be located in Ancoats, on the outskirts of Manchester city centre, on a brownfield site. This facility is not expected to be fully operational until 2032, with an interim office being sought in the city. Burnham, widely anticipated to become Prime Minister, has pledged to split his time between London and Greater Manchester as part of a plan to decentralize government operations. The Ancoats site, the Manchester Digital Campus, will house approximately 8,800 civil servants from various departments, focusing on digital work. This initiative aims to strengthen decision-making and bring government closer to communities, receiving support from regional leaders.

Andy Burnham, Britain's presumptive next prime minister, has outlined a plan to devolve more power to local governments to foster economic growth and spread wealth across the country. Speaking from Manchester, where he previously served as mayor, Burnham criticized Westminster as "broken" and presented a ten-year vision for "good growth in every postcode." His strategy aims to address the concentration of wealth and power in London and the south of England, ensuring that other regions are not overlooked. Burnham intends to establish a "Number 10 north" in Manchester, which will serve as the central hub for his prime ministerial operations. This initiative seeks to replicate his successful approach in Manchester, which involved leveraging public and private funds for investments in infrastructure, housing, and transport.

Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to become the UK's next prime minister, is set to unveil his economic and devolution plans in a major policy speech. The address, taking place in Manchester, will outline a 10-year mission aimed at raising living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure, and utility reform. A key proposal will be devolving power to regions and local communities, a concept his office describes as "Manchesterism." Burnham, who recently returned to Parliament, is currently the only declared candidate to replace Keir Starmer and could take leadership by mid-July. His economic stance is described as pro-business socialist, with a commitment to current government borrowing limits.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed confidence that Andy Burnham, the expected next UK Prime Minister, will uphold the alliance's defense spending commitments. Speaking in London, Rutte acknowledged that the UK's upcoming defense investment plan, due Tuesday, will likely not immediately meet the 3.5% of GDP target by 2035 but will represent a step towards it. He believes Burnham will recognize the economic benefits of increased defense spending, such as job creation, in addition to national security. Rutte's comments come amid internal UK debate over defense funding, with a previous defense secretary resigning over the pace of spending increases. Rutte also met with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and praised outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts in supporting Ukraine.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce a timetable for his resignation as soon as Monday, facing pressure from his Labour Party. This comes after his intraparty rival, Andy Burnham, won a special election for a parliamentary seat, aiming to challenge Starmer for leadership. Discontent within the Labour Party has been growing due to declining popularity and perceived failures in delivering economic growth and improving public services. Starmer's tenure has also been marked by missteps and challenges from other political parties. While some lawmakers support Burnham, others believe Starmer has been treated unfairly. U.S. President Donald Trump commented on Starmer's potential exit, linking it to immigration and energy policies.

Keir Starmer is expected to announce his resignation as Prime Minister on Monday due to significant pressure from Labour MPs. This move is intended to pave the way for Andy Burnham to become the new Labour leader, following Burnham's substantial victory in the Makerfield byelection. Business Secretary Peter Kyle indicated that Starmer is reflecting on political realities over the weekend. Burnham's win has bolstered his confidence in securing the leadership without a contest, with a significant number of Labour MPs reportedly backing him. Starmer's premiership has been marked by controversies and declining poll numbers, leading many Labour MPs to believe a change in leadership is necessary to counter Reform UK.

Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, less than two years after leading the Labour Party to a landslide election victory. This decision follows months of pressure from within his party due to declining electoral prospects, marked by significant losses in recent council elections and the rise of the far-right Reform UK party. Starmer stated he accepted the sentiment of his parliamentary party that he may not be the best leader for the next general election. His resignation triggers a Labour leadership contest, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham widely expected to succeed him. Starmer will remain as Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen, with nominations opening on July 9th and a new leader expected before Parliament returns in September.

Ten years after the UK voted to leave the European Union, many pro-Brexit Britons maintain that the decision was correct, emphasizing regained sovereignty and control. While acknowledging that the freedoms gained may have been squandered, supporters like Professor Robert Tombs argue that the core reasons for leaving—sovereignty, democracy, and control—remain valid. They attribute current challenges to successive governments failing to maximize post-Brexit opportunities and dismiss negative predictions from the "Remain" campaign as unfulfilled. Despite increased immigration figures, some believe the UK has regained control over its borders, even if that freedom has been used to expand immigration. The article notes that the UK officially withdrew from the EU on January 31, 2020, after a long and often tense membership.

The Guardian has published a 10th-anniversary quiz testing recall of the Brexit referendum campaign and its aftermath. The quiz features 18 questions covering various aspects, including the cost and eventual name of a national festival celebrating British creativity, the origin of blue passports, and unusual campaign moments involving Nigel Farage and a pop star. It also probes knowledge about specific political figures' actions, such as who asked for Article 50 to be invoked immediately after the vote and who eventually invoked it. The quiz touches upon the referendum's vote split in Scotland, the location of a planned music festival, and celebrity endorsements. It also delves into the details of the withdrawal agreement, the formation of an anti-Brexit party, and fundraising efforts for Big Ben. Further questions explore Boris Johnson's claims about bananas, an Instagram post that irritated Theresa May, a politician's contradictory parliamentary vote, the repurposing of the Brexit bus, the location of a post-victory press conference, and David Cameron's actions after his resignation.

Ten years after the 2016 referendum, where 51.9% of Britons voted to leave the European Union, the UK's economic performance and migration patterns have diverged from pre-Brexit projections. Research indicates the UK economy is smaller than it would have been, with real GDP per capita lagging behind the EU. Business investment has also seen a significant shortfall, attributed to political and regulatory uncertainty. Trade with Europe is projected to be substantially lower, and trade deals with non-EU countries have not compensated for this decline. The article highlights that promises made during the Leave campaign have largely not materialized, with the UK falling behind its peers.

Ten years after the UK voted to leave the European Union in a 2016 referendum, Brexit continues to divide the nation. The decision, driven by frustrations with the EU and the 2008 financial crisis, promised economic revitalization and domestic focus for the UK. However, a decade later, the British economy is estimated to be 4-8% smaller than it would have been if the UK had remained in the EU, with significant non-tariff barriers impacting trade with the EU. While free movement between the UK and EU ended, net migration from non-EU countries has increased, though overall net migration has fallen sharply. Public opinion polls now indicate a majority would like to rejoin the EU and believe Brexit is going worse than expected. The political landscape has fractured, with declining support for traditional parties and a growing sentiment that Brexit has failed.