Prime Minister Andy Burnham concluded his first week in office on Friday by convening a meeting of Cabinet ministers, civil servants, and regional mayors at a new administrative outpost in Manchester. The office, designated "No. 10 North," is located in a building shared with the cyberintelligence agency GCHQ. Burnham stated that he intends to work from this location at least one day per week as part of a policy to decentralize decision-making power from London to other regions of the United Kingdom.
During his first five days as Prime Minister, Burnham traveled to Scotland and several regions of England to announce new economic measures. These included a tax reduction for household electricity bills, a two-pound cap on bus fares, and a tax break for pubs. While Burnham characterized the Manchester office as a central hub for regional growth, opposition politicians described the move as a gimmick. Burnham assumed the leadership of the Labour government following the departure of Keir Starmer.
In foreign policy, the new administration signaled continuity regarding support for Ukraine and existing defense agreements. Burnham confirmed that U.K. bases would continue to be available for U.S. airstrikes against targets in the Strait of Hormuz. Following this, the Iranian government accused the U.K. of complicity in American actions and warned of potential repercussions. The U.K. Ministry of Defence issued a statement saying the nation remains committed to defending its interests in accordance with international law.