Burnham to dispatch 100 Whitehall officials to help regional mayors

Andy Burnham, the UK's prime minister, announced plans to deploy over 100 Whitehall officials to assist regional mayors in advancing economic growth. The move comes after a meeting held at his No 10 North base, where leaders from across England gathered to discuss strategies for fostering growth. The government referred to this session as a “situation room,” emphasizing collaboration between local and national leaders in shaping policy decisions. During the meeting, Burnham convened cabinet ministers including his deputy Louise Haigh, Chancellor John Healey, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, and other key figures, alongside mayors from various regions. They discussed ways to enhance local governance and ensure equitable economic progress. As part of the initiative, the government confirmed that five to ten civil servants will be seconded to each mayoral authority for a period of less than a year, forming the basis of a pilot program involving 18 mayoralties. Mayors had previously expressed the need for additional support, seeking greater access to expertise and resources rather than oversight from central authorities. This approach reflects a shift toward empowering local leadership while maintaining collaborative ties with national policymakers. Burnham emphasized that his No 10 North office brings together mayors from different political backgrounds to focus on solving problems rather than engaging in partisan competition. Haigh, serving as Burnham’s chief lieutenant, highlighted the significance of this transition, stating it marks the end of “the days of Westminster hoarding power.” She noted that this represents the largest transfer of power and resources away from Whitehall in recent history. The initiative aims to decentralize decision-making, allowing regional leaders to play a more active role in shaping policies that directly impact their communities. In addition to deploying officials, Burnham outlined broader reforms, including a new civil service fast stream pilot in Yorkshire and Humber and an expanded future leaders scheme designed to train top civil service performers for roles within mayoral and local authority administrations. These measures aim to build stronger institutional capacity at the local level, ensuring that skilled professionals can contribute effectively to regional development efforts. Burnham’s establishment of No 10 North was among his earliest actions as prime minister, merging elements of the Cabinet Office, Treasury, and housing ministry into a centralized unit tasked with leading the nation’s economic strategy. The operation is overseen by Haigh, who manages both the London-based No 10 and the Manchester-based No 10 North operations, along with sections of the Cabinet Office. While Burnham has suggested that No 10 North could assume primary responsibility for driving local growth, Healey clarified that growth initiatives will remain a “dual mission” involving both No 10 and No 10 North. He emphasized that achieving robust economic growth across all areas is essential to the government’s priorities, underscoring the importance of cooperation between national, regional, and local leaders. The plan calls for increased coordination across government departments to ensure that growth objectives are pursued collectively and consistently.