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.

European leaders have paid tribute to Keir Starmer following his resignation as British prime minister, which has led to the postponement of an upcoming EU-UK summit. European Council President António Costa stated the summit would be rescheduled and expressed hope that Starmer's successor would continue to reset EU-UK relations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Starmer for strengthening European and Ukrainian security, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked him for his support. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's spokesperson described Starmer as a reliable foreign policy partner, particularly concerning Ukraine. The EU had hoped to sign agreements on food and drink, emissions trading, and youth mobility at the summit.