UK Prime Minister opens Number 10 North in Manchester, revamps AI governance

The new British prime minister has inaugurated a regional office called Number 10 North in Manchester, citing it as a step toward rebalancing power outside London. The move follows announcements of a bus‑fare price cap, a cut to value‑added tax on electricity bills and reduced business rates for pubs, clubs and live‑music venues.

In parallel, the prime minister abolished the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, transferring its AI Security Institute to the Cabinet Office. A dedicated Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Kanishka Narayan, was appointed, with AI responsibilities now spread across the Cabinet Office and other departments such as Culture and Business.

These actions combine symbolic decentralisation with concrete policy changes affecting everyday consumers and the United Kingdom’s approach to artificial‑intelligence safety.