Burnham brings a 'No. 10' to Manchester to kickstart English 'devolution'

​British PM Andy Burnham formally opened his newly created northern office​ LONDON: British PM Andy Burnham formally opened his newly created northern office on Friday, promising "a different way of running Britain" as he bids to reverse decades of centralising power over England in London.Unveiling No 10 North in the northwestern city of Manchester, Burnham -- who replaced Keir Starmer as premier on Monday -- pledged power would "flow" away from London's Whitehall governing district to spur economic growth. "It's not just a new office," he told staff at the city centre site. "This is the place where Whitehall meets the rest of the country."The former Greater Manchester mayor says the thriving city-region - which has outscored Britain's national performance in various areas, including economic growth - provides a model for other parts of the country. He aims to work from No 10 North at least once a week, dismissing criticism it was a "short-lived gimmick". "It creates that sense of a more balanced country and that big things can be done from here," Burnham insisted.Devolution experts, however, appear unconvinced. 'De-concentration' is "something done in even very centralised states...