Louise Haigh leads new No 10 North office as Labour reshapes UK power

Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by‑election propelled Labour into government, and the party swiftly moved to decentralise authority from London. Louise Haigh, appointed First Secretary of State and head of the Cabinet Office, opened the temporary “No 10 North” headquarters in Manchester’s Heron House. The site, secured by police and staffed by GCHQ personnel, is presented as a concrete step toward shifting power to England’s regions, despite criticism that it could be a costly gimmick. Haigh, the youngest woman ever to hold a UK cabinet post, previously resigned as transport secretary after pleading guilty to a fraud offence in her twenties, but has returned as a key architect of the new devolution agenda.

At the same time, Labour’s Bev Craig is campaigning to succeed Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Her manifesto promises, such as extending free bus travel for 11‑16‑year‑olds, are being debated ahead of what is billed as the biggest UK byelection in recent history. Polls show Labour holding a clear lead over Reform UK, the Greens and other challengers, positioning Craig to become the most powerful Labour figure outside Westminster.