Burnham aims to shift growth strategy from Treasury to new Manchester hub

Andy Burnham announced a plan to relocate the UK’s growth policy function from the Treasury to a new No 10 North office in Manchester, led by Louise Haigh. Citing the Treasury’s tendency toward short-term caution, Burnham believes a dedicated growth unit can untangle policy bottlenecks across Whitehall. The idea revives past experiments such as Harold Wilson’s short-lived Department for Economic Affairs and draws parallels with the Office for Climate Change’s cross-departmental coordination.

Analysts point out that the Treasury will still dominate fiscal decisions, and the new unit’s limited staff may struggle to influence spending. Supporters like Ruth Curtice and Sanjay Raja see potential in aligning regional devolution with growth goals, while critics warn the arrangement could merely add a symbolic layer without real power. The success of the initiative will hinge on how conflicts between No 10 North and the Treasury are resolved.