Andy Burnham will not use 10 Downing Street as his main residence if he becomes prime minister, according to reports. The Greater Manchester mayor, widely expected to become Labour leader without a contest within weeks, intends to remain living in his family home near Wigan and spend a minimum of one day a week in a proposed Manchester office.
Breaking with Tradition
Burnham would be the first prime minister not to live full-time in Downing Street since Harold Wilson opted to live in Lord North Street during his second premiership from 1974 to 1976. The move marks a significant break with tradition for a role that has historically been synonymous with the famous address.
Burnham, who lives in Golborne, a former mining town on the outskirts of Wigan, with his wife Marie-France van Heel, is said to be committed to maintaining his family's roots in the North West. In his book Head North, co-authored with Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram, Burnham recounts warning his wife in the 1990s that “staying with me would mean settling in the North West.”
Northern Downing Street Plans
Daily Mail columnist Dan Hodges posted on X: “Latest on Burnham’s plans: As PM he will spend a minimum of a day a week in 'No.10 North'. He will not use No.10 as his main residence. His primary home will remain in the North West. Senior advisors have already begun work on establishing the Northern Downing Street.”
The proposed Manchester office, dubbed “No.10 North,” would serve as a base for Burnham's government operations in the region. This arrangement underscores his long-standing advocacy for devolution and northern powerhouse policies.
Impact and Reactions
Burnham's decision is likely to resonate with voters in the North of England, where he is widely popular and often referred to as the “King of the North.” However, it may also raise questions about accessibility and the practicalities of governing from outside London. Critics argue that a prime minister based primarily in the North West could face logistical challenges, while supporters see it as a bold step toward rebalancing the UK's political geography.
Burnham is expected to formally enter the Labour leadership race in the coming weeks, with many party figures already backing him as the frontrunner. His unconventional living arrangements could become a defining feature of his premiership.
