Andy Burnham to transfer growth powers from Treasury to Number 10 North
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is moving responsibility for economic growth from the Treasury to his Number 10 North office, part of a wider devolution push.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed he will transfer responsibility for economic growth from the Treasury to his Number 10 North office. The move, described by Mr Burnham as part of a "huge transfer of power out of Whitehall", is intended to give local areas more control over their economies.
Speaking on Sky News, the Prime Minister said the change would see growth powers moved away from the Treasury and into his northern base. The announcement comes as the government prepares for the Budget on 28 October, with inflation expected to rise in the autumn, reducing the Chancellor's headroom.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner backed the plan, arguing that devolution had already worked in Greater Manchester, where Mr Burnham previously served as mayor. "We saw in Greater Manchester where Andy had more powers, we saw the economy growing faster than the rest of the UK," she said. She added that the government wanted to see that growth "in every postcode" and would work with businesses and local partners to drive investment.
Ms Rayner stressed that local leaders know their own economies and challenges, but often feel powerless when decisions are made centrally in Whitehall. The government, including the Chancellor, is committed to empowering local areas to drive their own economic growth.
The announcement is part of a broader devolution agenda, with the government aiming to put "devolution and community empowerment at the heart" of its work. The transfer of growth powers to Number 10 North is expected to be a key element of that strategy, though further details on how the new arrangements will operate have yet to be published.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| Burnham will transfer responsibility for economic growth from the Treasury to Number 10 North, described by the Prime Minister as part of a huge transfer of power out of Whitehall. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News framed the story within the wider economic context, noting the upcoming Budget and inflation pressures, while also giving prominent airtime to Angela Rayner's defence of the devolution plan. The tone was factual, with a focus on the mechanics of the power transfer and its potential impact on local growth.
- “Andy Burnham says he will transfer responsibility for economic growth from the Treasury to number 10 North.”
- “The Prime Minister described the move as part of a huge transfer of power out of Whitehall.”
- “So we saw in Greater Manchester where Andy had more powers, we saw the economy growing faster than the rest of the UK.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.