Andy Burnham, the newly appointed prime minister, is to spend his first day in office at a Manchester base being dubbed "No10 North", despite insisting the arrangement is "not a gimmick." The move underlines his stated commitment to governing with a stronger regional focus outside Westminster, though it has drawn scrutiny given that a permanent dedicated office in Manchester is not expected to open until 2032.

The timing has also attracted criticism, coming just hours after Burnham told Cabinet colleagues they must "always show how they are going to pay" for policies, shortly after his own government unveiled an unfunded £850 million energy bills package. Reaction to his appointment has been mixed abroad, with some foreign media reportedly describing Britain as an "absolute mess" and suggesting the country has "replaced one village idiot with another," while also noting Burnham's fondness for a 1970s "lost paradise."