Andy Burnham strips treasury of growth powers for No 10 North

No 10 North is becoming far more than a political hub

The change, reported by the Daily Mail, comes as the Prime Minister pushes the idea of shifting more decision-making away from Whitehall, describing the move as a “huge transfer of power”. It also gives No 10 North a much more substantial role than simply acting as a new political hub.

Why Andy Burnham is moving growth out of Whitehall

Stripping the growth brief from the Treasury is the clearest sign yet of how the Prime Minister intends to run his goNo 10 North is also set to become a regular base for Burnham, with The Independent reporting that he is expected to work there one day a week during his premiership.

That means the economic work now being moved out of the Treasury will sit alongside him when he is working from the northern office.

The decision forms part of Burnham’s wider plans to give regions more control over their own affairs and comes after some critics questioned whether No 10 North was little more than a political gesture.

There is also backing from Chancellor John Healey, according to the Prime Minister, despite the fact that the Treasury is losing responsibility for economic growth. Burnham has described the wider shift as a “huge transfer of power” away from Whitehall.

The announcement came alongside a separate £442 million plan to tackle rough sleeping, with the Government aiming to get people off the streets by Christmas.

It has not yet been revealed which Treasury staff or funding will move to No 10 North as part of the change.