Andy Burnham would provide ‘leadership we have longed for’

Rachael Maskell, Labour’s York Central MP, welcomed the former Greater Manchester mayor’s announcement to move power out of London by setting up a No 10 North operation based in Manchester.

Mr Burnham, in his first speech since Sir Keir Starmer announced he would be resigning, said he will lead a decade-long plan to transform Britain by transferring power out of Whitehall and giving regions the ability to control essential utilities, transport and housing.

Andy Burnham delivers his first speech since Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Ms Maskell, who served in Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour shadow cabinet with Mr Burnham, welcomed the prospective prime minister announcing the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen”.

“Over the last 11 years, I have consistently fought in Parliament for our city at every opportunity, but like so many, have found that the ‘can’t do’ culture of Westminster and Whitehall has stifled our aspiration,” she said.

“Now we have the greatest opportunity to get things done for all who were left behind by the broken state.”

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Ms Maskell, who lost the Labour whip after rebelling over the government’s welfare reforms, said: “In setting out that MPs will be able to advocate for their communities, what that means to me is that in the future, when I speak up on things like winter fuel payments for pensioners, for taking children out of poverty or to protect disabled people from losing vital funds to keep their independence, instead of being stripped of the whip, I will be heard.

“Such a pluralist approach to policy and politics speaks right back to our roots as a Party where it was the voices of communities which shaped the priorities of Labour. This is the leadership we have longed for.

“I am excited about working with residents and workers across our city to ensure we rebuild the opportunities we long for as a city.”

No 10 North will help deliver full potential of thousands of civil servant jobs moving to York, says industry chief

Meanwhile, Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said Mr Burnham devolving power out of Whitehall will help ensure the relocation of thousands of new civil servant jobs in York will deliver its full potential.

Artists impression of the government hub (Image: Aimee Ofsarnie2)

It comes as part of plans for a new government hub, home to 2,600 civil servants, to be built at the York Central development. Civil servant jobs will also be relocated to Darlington and Manchester under the plans.

“These new government offices are helping regenerate those places, but ministers themselves have not yet made effective use of them. A regular ministerial presence outside Whitehall would strengthen decision-making and bring government closer to the communities it serves,” Mr Murison told the Guardian.