Inside No10 North as Andy Burnham units up his new energy base
Heron House in Manchester is now home to No10 North – a stark contrast to the cramped corridors and offices of 10 Downing Street which has been home to British PMs since the 18th Century
Andy Burnham worked from No10 North in Manchester for the first time on Friday(Image: James Speakman/The Times/PA Wire)
For centuries, there has only been one No10.
The Downing Street townhouse, which has been home to British Prime Ministers since 1735, is famous around the world and a symbol of prime ministerial power. But now there’s a second black door – in an office block in Manchester.
Andy Burnham plans to turn Heron House, the north-west base for security agency GCHQ, into Britain’s nerve centre, in a statement move to show he means business when he promised to stamp out regional inequalities plaguing Britain.
Opportunities to look inside have been rare in recent years due to the top-secret work carried out within its walls. But Mr Burnham threw open the doors to cameras on Friday, offering a glimpse of the office from where the country will be run – for one day a week at least.
A replica No10 door stands in the entrance to greet visitors, with glass-fronted office rooms printed with the image of the Manchester worker bee – an image Mr Burnham has tattooed on his arm.
Portraits by Stanley Chow, who created the artwork used in Mr Burnham’s Makerfield by-election campaign, are dotted around of famous Mancunians such as footballer Marcus Rashford, mathematician Alan Turing, suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and poet Lemn Sissay.
Mr Burnham will know the building well, having been Mayor of Greater Manchester for nearly a decade. Standing in an open space with a patterned grey, brown and cream floor and large windows looking out onto Albert Square, he described it as a “full circle moment”.
It marks a stark contrast to the historic grandeur of 10 Downing Street. But despite the lavish surroundings, its occupants have long complained about the challenges of working behind the famous black door.
Teams are siloed off in different parts of the building, connected by a maze of corridors. Staff are crammed into tiny offices while massive state rooms are infrequently used.
Keir Starmer joked to friends that he would open a door to what he thought was a cupboard and find a room full of people.
Despite the presence of veteran No10 cat Larry, mice can be spotted running between desks. Aides said the air con and heating can be patchy and the cold taps sometimes run lukewarm, while food has to be brought over from the neighbouring Cabinet Office canteen.
One No10 official said: “It’s a higgledy-piggledy building that’s really not a modern work place.”
