Taxpayers stump up nearly £50,000 for Andy Burnham’s No.10 North ‘vanity project’
The Cabinet Office has disclosed that almost £49,000 was spent establishing the Government’s No 10 North office in Manchester, an initiative associated with Andy Burnham. Critics, including the TaxPayers’ Alliance, described the spending as a “vanity project”, while the Government said the office would support regional growth and closer work with local leaders.
The disclosed costs included nearly £20,000 for IT infrastructure, more than £10,000 for office branding, almost £9,000 for office works, and smaller sums for equipment, crockery and a replica Downing Street door. The figures, released following a Freedom of Information request, exclude staff, travel, security and ongoing operating costs; the article also reports that security could eventually require much larger spending.
- Nearly £49,000 was spent setting up No 10 North.
- IT and branding accounted for much of the disclosed cost.
- Wider staffing, security and running costs were not disclosed.
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No 10 North is a Government office in Manchester, created to give ministers and officials a base outside London. It is intended to make it easier for central government to work with councils, mayors and businesses in northern England.
Andy Burnham is the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, a role that involves leading regional policy on issues such as transport, housing and economic development. He has long argued for more power and investment to be moved from Westminster to English regions, though the office is run by the UK Government rather than by his mayoral administration.
The project sits within a wider debate about whether government can be made less London-focused. Supporters say regional offices can improve coordination and support local growth, while critics question whether the benefits justify the setup and running costs.
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The case for
Supporters argue that a visible, properly equipped No 10 presence in Manchester can make government more responsive to northern communities and help ministers work directly with regional leaders on growth, transport and investment. They may regard the initial setup costs as modest in the context of public administration, particularly if the office improves coordination and signals that policymaking is not confined to London. Branding and practical fittings can be defended as part of creating a functional, recognisable official workplace.
The case against
Critics argue that public money should be spent only where there is a clear, measurable operational need, and that the disclosed items give too little confidence that this test was applied. They contend that expensive branding, a replica door and ancillary purchases look symbolic rather than necessary, especially when the published total excludes potentially substantial staffing, travel, security and running costs. From this perspective, regional engagement could be achieved through existing offices and meetings without creating a costly new political showcase.