Bernam plans to strengthen the role of No. 10 North in growth policy
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham presented details of a plan for a new Manchester branch of the Prime Minister’s Office, No. 10 North. It is intended to focus on local economic growth and decentralization. Burnham hopes the unit will help coordinate growth policies, which are currently spread across various government departments.
According to The Guardian World, the prime minister described the initiative as a way to strengthen the Prime Minister’s Office’s role in growth issues that fall under the Treasury’s purview. At the same time, a source at the Treasury emphasized that No. 10 North will not take over the entire economic strategy and will focus primarily on local development and devolution to the regions.
Burnam stated that combining the tasks of stimulating growth and controlling public finances within the Treasury can sometimes overshadow growth objectives. No. 10 North’s work will be overseen by the Prime Minister’s cabinet ally, Louise Hay. Burnam also drew a parallel with the British Department of Economic Affairs during the Harold Wilson administration, which was created for long-term economic planning.
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The new unit is expected to help coordinate decisions in the areas of housing, education, planning, and local government. Ruth Curtis, director of the Resolution Foundation think tank and a former Treasury official, considers coordination among these areas to be one of the most valuable tasks the Manchester-based unit could undertake. According to her, the Treasury does not control all the tools needed to stimulate growth.
Sanjay Raja, chief economist at Deutsche Bank in the UK, highlighted the shared interest in decentralization between Bernam and his candidate for chancellor, John Healy. In his view, the creation of No. 10 North will not necessarily limit Healy’s role, as both politicians can act in concert.
David Hock, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, doubts that the new body will be able to serve as an effective counterweight to the Treasury, which will retain control over taxes and government spending. Civil servants are being transferred to No. 10 North from other departments, particularly those dealing with housing and local government. Sam Lister, a former journalist at The Times, has been appointed director of the unit, though civil service veterans point out that the agency’s resources remain limited for now.
